CONTENTS
INTERMEDIATE PASSAGES
1. THE BEST RECRUITING AGENTS
85
2. TO BRING BACK LOST MEMORIES
10
3. PALM TREES
12
4. OVERREACTING TO A JOKE
14
5. ALPINE FORESTS
16
6. THE ASSEMBLY LINE
18
7. ALLERGIC REACTIONS TO COSMETICS.... 20
8. THE "JAZZ AGE"
22
9. PACIFIC SALMON FOR THE JAPANESE .... 24
10. THE MUSEUM ROBBERY
26
11. READING
28
12. READING TO THE CHILD
30
13. JUST FOR PLEASURE
32
14. THE INVADERS
34
15. WEANING
36
16. THE COMPUTER
38
17. WHEN SEIZED WITH CRAMP
40
18. A "SISSY" OR A "TOM-BOY"
42
19. THE CHAIN OF HOPE
44
20. CHARLES CHAPLIN
46
21. TO CURE THE CRUELTY OF CHILDREN .... 48
22. HEADSET STEREOS
50
23. THE REASONS FOR RAPID POPULATION
GROWTH
52
24. LIFE AFTER DEATH
54
25. NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL
56
26. ALFRED NOBEL - A MAN
OF CONTRASTS
58
27. ATTITUDES TOWARDS MONEY
60
28. SPIDERS
62
29. HOW TO TRAIN ELEPHANTS
64
30. TEENAGE ENTREPRENEURS
66
31. CHINESE NEW YEAR
68
32. LEVI STRAUSS
70
33. ASTROLOGY
72
34. THE IMPORTANCE OF DREAMS
74
35. EUROPE'S LAST UTOPIA
76
36. THE GORILLA'S CHEST-BEATING
78
37. LOVE
80
38. THE MIND'S EYE
82
39. THE WILL TO LIVE
84
40. DEBATE OVER THE WORLD'S FUTURE .... 86
41. THE IMPORTANCE OF LETTER-WRITING .. 88
42. THE WIND'S WITH US
90
43. WEEP FOR HEALTH
92
44. THE BENEFITS OF TECHNOLOGY
94
45. NADIA COMANECI
96
46. THE
TITANIC
98
47. WHERE NEW PRODUCTS COME FROM ....100
48. HOW TO TREAT FROSTBITE
102
49. UNFAIRNESS TO THE PIG
104
50. TEA INNOVATIONS
106
51. THE FATHER OF THE AMERICAN
RESTAURANT
108
52. SOCRATES
110
53. POSSESSING A MATHEMATICAL MIND
112
54. SHORT STORIES
114
55. THE SPICE TRADE
116
56. ALEXANDRE DUMAS
118
57. CLASSIFYING LIFE FORMS
120
58. ICE-BORG
122
59. SMALL WHALES
124
60. SWIMMING BIRDS OF THE ANTARCTIC .... 126
61. LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN
128
62. OUR ANIMAL FRIENDS
130
63. I-HOCH'UAN
132
64. IS IT ART?
134
65. HISTORY OR BIOGRAPHY?
136
66. ARE THEY EVIL?
138
67. WHY LEAVE?
140
68. FROM HOLY WATER TO COCA-COLA
142
69. THE BIRTH OF ROCK AND ROLL
144
70. JUDO
146
71. THE PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF
ART'S FAMOUS STEPS
148
72. A COUNTRY WALK
150
73. FAKE ART
152
74. THE ORGAN OF VISION
154
75. QUEEN VICTORIA
156
UPPER-INTERMEDIATE PASSAGES
1. HEALTH EDUCATION
160
2. DARWIN'S THEORY OF EVOLUTION
162
3. TIMING THE CRITICISM
164
4. HAGIA SOPHIA
166
5. THE LOST SETTLERS
168
6. TO TAKE UP EXERCISE
170
7. JAPANESE EMPLOYEES
172
8. TEMPERAMENTS OF MAN
AND WOMAN
174
9. ACTIVE NOISE CONTROL
176
10. FAITH IN DRUGS
178
11. THE LOCH NESS MONSTER
180
12. THE PUFFER FISH
182
13. SPARTACUS
184
14. THE CHINESE LANGUAGE
186
15. JACQUELINE BOUVIER
KENNEDY ONASSIS
188
16. EXACTLY THE RIGHT WORD
190
17. THE INFLUENCE OF SOCIETY
192
18. THE HABIT OF CHEERFULNESS
194
19. BIGGER MAY NOT BE BETTER
196
20. TO TEACH OR NOT TO TEACH
198
21. ROMANTICISM
200
22. WHAT ARE YOU LAUGHING AT?
202
23. BOUNCING BALLS AND
BEATING HEARTS
204
24. HENRY FORD: HUMANITARIAN
AND BUSINESSMAN
206
25. THE WANDERING MINSTREL
208
26. CREATIVE WRITING
210
27. THE FIRST RENAISSANCE MAN
212
28. WITHOUT A TRACE
214
29. MIGUEL GIL MORENO
216
30. THE DANGER OF HEIGHT
218
31. FROM HASHSHASHIN TO ASSASSIN
220
32. ETERNAL ART, TRANSITORY
TECHNOLOGY
222
33. BOGEY AND BACALL
224
34. VITAMIN FROM "VITAL AMINE"
226
35. DR. DEAN ORNISH'S PROGRAM
228
36. THOMAS CARLYLE
230
37. ROME'S FOUNTAINS
232
38. THE PYRENEES
234
39. SUSAN ELOISE HINTON
236
40. SEE NAPLES AND DIE!
238
41. KATHERINE MANSFIELD
240
42. SANTA CLAUS
242
43. SIR JAMES PAUL McCARTNEY
244
44. THE FIRST MAN-MADE OBJECTS
IN THE SKY
246
45. TOURISM
248
46. ORGANIC FARMING
250
47. THE NEED FOR THE STUDY
OF HISTORY
252
48. HOW TO BRUSH YOUR TEETH
254
49. THE BEGINNING OF SYNTHETICS
256
50. JAPANESE GARDENS
258
51. THE TEMPLE OF BOROBODUR
260
52. CULTURE SHOCK
262
53. FIELDS OF PSYCHOLOGY
264
54. THE GINSENG PLANT
266
55. THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
268
56. HEALTH EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS
270
57. APOLLO 13
272
58. JOAQUIN MURIETA
274
59. EVEN BETTER THAN TODAY'S
TEXTILES
276
60. YANKEE
278
61. SPHINX
280
62. OGAI MORI
282
63. ONE REASON TO VISIT AMERICA
284
64. AN EXAMPLE OF ABSTRACT ART
286
65. A PARADISE FOR AUTHORS
AND ARTISTS
288
66. HARRIET MONROE
290
67. GULLIVER'S TRAVELS
292
68. CYRUS FIELD
294
69. THE MODERN APPROACH
TO DISPLAYING ANIMALS
296
70. HELEN KELLER
298
71. DANIEL DEFOE
300
72. BACKPACKERS
302
73. GRAFFITI
304
74. CHANGING TRENDS IN AUTO COLOUR ....306
75. THE SPIRIT OF ENTERPRISE
308
ADVANCED PASSAGES
1. THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC
COMMITTEE
312
2. THE HISTORY OF WINE
314
3. THE DIARIES OF SAMUEL PEPYS
316
4. CRANBERRY
318
5. THE ENVIRONMENT
320
6. LIFTING THE DIVORCE BAN
322
7. JOHN GRISHAM
324
8. PARENTS' ATTITUDE
TO ADOLESCENTS
326
9. THE CODE OF HAMMURABI
328
10. THE HOME OFFICE - THE SHORTEST
COMMUTE
330
11. THE AGE OF SAMURAIS
AND SHOGUNS
332
12. TRAINING TO BE A DANCER
334
13. THE POLGAR SISTERS
336
14. THE TIGRIS RIVER
338
15. JAMES HARGREAVES
340
16. THE FAUST LEGEND
342
17. HALLUCINOGENS
344
18. CONFUCIUS
346
19. EARLY BRITISH PRISONS
348
20. WILLIAM TELL
350
21. IRISH TRADITIONAL MUSIC
352
22. BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS
354
23. THE EFFECTS OF SCARY
MOVIES ON CHILDREN
356
24. PAUL SERENO
358
25. THE END OF THE MINOAN
CIVILIZATION
360
26. ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM
362
27. MINIATURE ADULTS
364
28. THE REMAINS OF THE
QUEEN
ANNE'S REVENGE
366
29. A LONGING FOR THE PAST
368
30. THE
ODYSSEY
370
31. THE MADRID METRO
372
32. WILLIAM H. TAFT
374
33. THE SHIFTING ECONOMY
376
34. A DIFFERENT OUTLOOK ON LIFE
378
35. THE HAYMARKET RIOT
380
36. THESEUS
382
37. FIRDAWSI
384
38. MALPRACTICE
386
39. HOW TO LIVE TO BE 100
388
40. THE INTERNET
390
41. HOW TO BECOME A KING?
392
42. THE MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE
394
43. OWNER OF A SAMURAI ARMY
396
44. WARRIOR WOMEN
398
45. PELE, THE SOCCER LEGEND
400
46. GRAND CANYON
402
47. FESTIVAL IN ZIMBABWE
404
48. THE ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS
OF WAR
406
49. AQUACULTURE
408
50. MAGNIFICENT MALLS
410
INTERMEDIATE
PASSAGES
THE BEST RECRUITING AGENTS
In 1849 a servant girl wrote home to her brother from Port Adelaide, South
Australia: "I have accepted a situation at £20 per annum, so you can tell the
servants in your neighbourhood not to stay in England for such wages as from £4 to
£8
a
year, but come here." Letters such as these, which were circulated from kitchen
to kitchen and from attic to attic in English homes, were the best recruiting agents for
the colonies, which were then so desperately in need of young women to serve the
pioneers who were trying to create
a
new life for themselves in their chosen
countries. Other girls read about the much better prospects overseas in newspapers
and magazines, which also published advertisements giving details of free or
assisted passages.
E X E RC I S E 1:
Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a)
job (in the passage, as a servant)
b) for each year
c) money paid for work - especially unskilled work
(plural)
d) move from place to place, or person to person
in a particular group; pass round
e) room at the top of a house in the space
immediately below the roof
f) the finding of new workers
g) very greatly; seriously
h) one of the first people to go to a new country to
work or settle
i) chance of success, especially in work
[plural)
j) abroad; in a foreign country across the sea
k) without payment; costing nothing
I) provided with or given help with raising money
for something
m) journey by ship from one place to another
8
E L S
E X E RC I S E 2: Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. Those women who went to the colonies as servants
A)
were all recruited through agents back in England
B) missed their families greatly
C) played the most important role in attracting others
D) found themselves being moved from kitchen to kitchen
E) had the pioneering spirit necessary for starting new lives
2. Getting to the colonies from England for the servants
A)
could cost as little as £4
B) was essential if they wanted to escape life in English attics
C) was only possible if an agent had recruited them
D) did not pose any financial problem
E) required a written invitation from someone already there
3. It is stated in the passage that
A)
no men could get jobs as servants in Australia
B) servants were in great demand for the pioneers establishing new lives
C) English homes were short of servants as so many went overseas
D) the pioneers who went to the colonies were all men
E) emigration from England to Australia started in 1849
E X E R C I S E 3: Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
A person with good qualifications is bound to have brighter
than
someone without.
2. The local shops are giving away sets of kitchen knives
with every
purchase over £50.
3. The news
so quickly round the office that by the end of the day,
everyone had heard it.
4.
Many of the
had no information as to what difficulties they would face
once they arrived in their new land.
5. She
wanted a bicycle, and begged her parents day and night for one.
ELS 9
2
TO BRING BACK LOST MEMORIES
Our unconscious mind contains many millions of past experiences that, so far
as our conscious mind knows, are lost forever. By means of several devices, we
now know how to bring back lost memories. One method is "free association", used
by psychiatrists. If a patient lets his conscious mind wander at will, it can give him
clues to forgotten things which, if skilfully pursued by the doctor, will bring up whole
networks of lost ideas and forgotten terrors. There are certain drugs which also help
in this process; hypnotism, too, can be of tremendous value in exploring a patient's
unconscious.
E X E RC I S E 1: Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a) for all time
b) method for doing something, or for getting an
intended result
c) allow your thoughts to go from subject to
subject; stop concentrating
d) whenever, however, and as much as you want
to
e) something which suggests the answer to, or
gives information about a problem
f) try to find out more through questioning
g) large number of things that are connected to
each other
h) something which causes very great fear
i) very great; very important
10
ELS
E X ER C I S E 2: Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. According to the passage, it is possible
A)
to use drugs to cure patients of their past terrors
B) to bring our lost memories to the surface through several methods
C) that psychological problems develop through the inability to forget certain things
D) that hypnotism can cause a patient to forget past terrors
E) for most people to choose to forget about their past experiences
2. In the method of "free association"
A)
unpleasant memories are pushed into the unconscious mind
B) the use of hypnotism is essential
C) certain drugs are more effective than hypnotism
D) all one's millions of past experiences are easily recalled
E) the patient's co-operation is needed
3. We can conclude from the passage that
A)
most psychological disorders are caused by the inability to forget certain things
B) only a skilful doctor can open up one's unconscious mind
C) our unconscious mind only contains the things we don't want to remember
D) many of one's past experiences are stored in one's unconscious mind
E) a patient can't be made aware of his forgotten experiences without drugs or hypnotism
E X E RC I S E 3: Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
I've decided not to
the matter just now, but don't think I've forgotten
about it.
2. All of you have put
effort into the campaign, so it's thanks to you that
everything is going so well.
3. The chairman has given us no
as to what he's going to say at the
meeting, so we'll just have to wait and see.
4. The language teacher has a number of
which she can employ in order
to get her students to speak.
5. The lecture was so boring that on several occasions I realized that my attention had started
to
ELS 11
PALM TREES
Of the world's 2,500-plus species of palm trees, the Palmyra
palm is most important to man, next to the coconut palm,
because it yields food and provides over one hundred
different useful end-products. To obtain the majority of its
benefits, the Palmyra needs to be climbed twice daily to
extract the nutritious juice from its flower-bunches. It is this
juice, converted by several different methods, that is the basis for
a wide variety of other products. Collecting this juice, however, is
arduous - and often dangerous - work, for the trees can
top 30 metres in height.
E X E RC I S E 1:
Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a) more than
b) produce naturally
c) final result after treatment or processing
d) get
e) more than half of the total; most
f) something good or useful
g) get something from or out of something else
h) having high value as food, e.g. containing
vitamins, etc.
i) change (in form, etc.)
j) tiring; involving a lot of energy and effort
k) be taller, higher or more than
12
ELS
EX ER C I S E
2:
Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. When the Palmyra is climbed twice a day
A)
it is possible to get most of its benefits
B) strict safety measures are taken
C) the best coconuts can be picked
D) it encourages the tree to grow to over thirty metres
E) the flowers are collected for processing
2. According to the passage
A)
each palm tree can produce over 100 coconuts
B) the juice from coconuts is very nutritious
C) there are at least two and a half thousand types of palm tree
D) there are several different ways of collecting Palmyra flower juice
E) many people rely on palm trees for their basic food requirements
3. The juice from the Palmyra's flower-bunches
A)
is better quality if the tree is at least 30 metres high
B) is only produced at certain times of the day
C) gets converted into over 100 different food types
D) is extracted by pressing the picked flowers
E) provides the raw material for many other products
E X E R C I S E 3: Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
The results we
weren't what we'd expected, so we may have to carry
out the experiment again.
2.
For the first time in the company's history, sales have
$10 million.
3.
If you are planning to grow your own tomatoes, I'd recommend planting this variety as it
generally
a larger crop than other types.
4.
The best quality olive oil is that which is
from the olives at the first
pressing.
5.
During the fermentation period of wine-making, the natural sugar in the grapes is
to alcohol.
ELS
13
O V E RR E A CT IN G TO A JO K E
More often than not, the person who habitually laughs longest and loudest when
I a joke is retold does not possess a particularly keen sense of humour. Though he
1 may not admit it, he is vaguely aware of his deficiency, and frequently goes to
1 extremes to cover it up. A mediocre joke is likely to get as big a rise out of him as a
I truly humorous one. Psychological studies, likewise, show that people with a really
I keen sense of humour are not prone to much laughter. They are highly appreciative
1 of humour, but they are also discriminating. And they never overreact.
E XE RC I S E 1:
Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a)
usually; according to someone's usual
behaviour
b) tell; repeat, having heard it from someone else
c) have; own
d) more than normally; noticeably
e) sharp; strong; active; very aware
f) ability to see when something is amusing
(phrase)
g) only to a small degree; not clearly
h) shortage or lack of something; weakness
i) often
j) do more than is considered reasonable or
acceptable
(phrase)
k) not very good; of a poor standard
I) very probably the case; to be expected
m) cause someone to react with laughter, anger,
etc.
(phrase)
n) moreover; in a similar way
o) have a tendency; generally behave in a certain
way
(phrase)
p) feeling enjoyment, pleasure and understanding
q) able to recognize good quality; able to see
small differences between good and bad
14
ELS
E X E R C I S E 2: Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. According to the writer, it isn't necessarily true that
A)
mediocre jokes are only laughed at by people with no sense of humour
B) people with a keen sense of humour never overreact
C) a person who is aware of his weak sense of humour will always overreact
D) some jokes are better than others
E) the longer a person laughs, the keener his sense of humour
2. Those with a really keen sense of humour
A)
never show it through laughter
B) tell mediocre jokes to make other people overreact
C) don't appreciate the company of those with a poor sense of humour
D) are able to distinguish between good and bad jokes
E) will laugh for a long time at a truly humorous joke
3. The writer believes that by overreacting to a joke
A)
some people are trying to hide the shortcomings in their sense of humour
B) you make the person who told it feel inadequate in some way
C) you spoil the humour for other people
D) a person can demonstrate how mediocre it is
E) a person shows how discriminating he is about humour
E X E R C IS E 3." Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
As young children, we absorb a lot of language before we utter our first words.
, when we're learning a second language, we shouldn't be expected to
produce it until we have taken it in.
2.
He's very
you know, and he will immediately notice if we serve him a
cheap bottle of wine.
3.
I
remember you telling me this before, but tell me again as I've
forgotten most of the details.
4.
He's good at all the sciences
physics, and he seems to understand
even the most complicated concepts with no effort at all.
5.
I'm
to be home late this evening, so don't wait to eat if you're hungry.
ELS • 15
i
ALPINE FORESTS
Forests are the lifeguards of the snowy peaks of the Alps. They provide a
natural barrier against avalanches and landslides, but the skiing industry, which
proved a boon for poor Alpine farmers, is damaging the environment. Forests have
been felled to make way for more ski runs, car parks, and hotels, and Alpine
meadows have been abandoned by farmers keen to exploit tourism. Consequently,
the avalanche has now become a common phenomenon. Forestry experts estimate
that two-thirds of the several thousand avalanches that descend into inhabited parts
each year are the result of forest depletion.
EX E R C I S E 1: Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a) an expert swimmer employed at a beach or
pool to protect other swimmers from drowning
or other accidents
(used metaphorically in the
passage)
b) pointed top of a mountain
c) something that stops or hinders movement
from one place to another
d) great mass of snow and ice that slides down
the side of a mountain
e) small movement of rocks and soil down the
side of a hill or other slope
f) advantage; something that makes life better or
easier
g) cut down (of trees)
h) area of grassland
i) stop looking after and leave, not intending to
return
j) eager; wanting (to do something) very much
k) develop in order to make money; take
advantage of
I) something that happens and can be seen or
experienced
m) calculate approximately
n) go or move downwards
o) with people living there; occupied
p) reduction; being used up so that little or none
remains
16
ELS
E X E RC I S E 2: Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. In the Alps, the attraction of tourism
A)
causes two thousand avalanches a year
B) has diverted some farmers away from the care of the land
C) has brought much-needed help for protecting the environment
D) has lessened due to the threat of avalanches
E) forced many farmers to leave the area
2. As a consequence of the depletion of Alpine forests
A)
many farmers have had to turn to tourism for work
B) the skiing industry has suffered a great decline
C) only one-third of all avalanches occur in uninhabited parts
D) many areas are now uninhabitable
E) the frequency of avalanches has greatly increased
3. Alpine farmers
A)
were the people who initiated the development of the skiing industry
B) have had much of their land taken from them by those involved in tourism
C) used to be poor before the rise of the skiing industry
D) were forced to turn their meadows into hotels and car parks
E) feel that they have been exploited by tourism
EX ER C I S E 3," Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
Recent restrictions on imports have led to a
of the country's oil
reserves.
2.
The police put
around the stadium to try to stop those supporters
without tickets from attempting to get in.
3.
The puppies had obviously been
by their mother, so we decided to
take them in and look after them.
4.
Environmentalists are claiming that the construction company
more
trees than necessary while building the new road.
5.
She
the stairs slowly, careful not to catch her foot in her long skirt.
ELS
17
THE ASSEMBLY LINE
Henry Ford was a car builder. He was not the first to have the idea of the
horseless coach. The Germans Daimler and Benz had invented it, but he was the
first to use the assembly line for mass production. His Model-T car was the first to be
produced on the assembly line. The new system cut the time in which the car was
put together from 14 hours to 1 hour and 33 minutes. Eventually the price of the car
fell from $1,200 to $295. The car lacked certain luxuries; still, it could be relied on
and did not need much looking after. Soon, the Model-T became the people's car.
After nineteen years, when the Model-T became obsolete and sales dropped sharply
- for other car manufacturers, copying Ford's assembly line system, were able to
bring down the costs of much more attractive cars - Ford developed the
new
Model-A. It, too, was the most inexpensive car on the market.
Today there are hardly any factories to be found where Ford's
assembly line system is not being utilized for mass production.
E X E R C I S E 1
: Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMNB
a)
four-wheeled covered vehicle pulled by horses
b) arrangement of workers and machines where
each worker completes only one part of the
production and then passes it along to another
for the next stage
c) the making of something in large quantities
d) in the end; after a time
e) not have; be without
f) no longer used; out-of-date
g) quickly and to a great degree
h) person or company that makes things in
factories in large quantities
i) make use of
18 • ELS
E XE RC I S E 2: Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. Ford's assembly line system
A)
was invented by the Germans Daimler and Benz
B) was reliable and did not need much maintenance
C) is used in almost every factory today
D) became obsolete after nineteen years
E) could put a car together in twelve hours and twenty-seven minutes
2. Henry Ford
A)
went bankrupt when sales of his Model-T dropped
B) introduced the system of mass production on an assembly line
C) made profits of only $295 on his first mass-produced car
D) produced the Model-T, which was the first car ever to be built
E) worked in partnership with Daimler and Benz
3. Ford had to cease the production of the Model-T because
A)
manufacturing costs had risen to over $1,000
B) he-could not compete with the mass production methods of Daimler and Benz
C) the Model-A was being sold at a much lower price
D) other manufacturers had copied its design
E) the price of more luxurious cars had dropped
E X E R CI S E 3: Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
Prices have risen
in the last month and the government is battling to
bring the economy under control.
2.
Before we start spending money on a new office, perhaps we should see if we can
the space we already have more effectively.
3.
Computers and word processors have become so commonplace these days that the
traditional typewriter is virtually
4. Although she is quite a good pianist, she
the talent necessary to make
a professional career in music.
5. We're saving a small amount of money every month and we hope,
, to
have enough to buy a car.
ELS • 19
ALLERGIC REACTIONS TO COSMETICS
In a recent survey, it was found that 25 percent of the women interviewed
reported drying and burning of the skin after using certain soaps, ten percent had
eye and nasal irritations after using certain perfumes, and eight percent had cracked
lips after using certain lipsticks. The most common symptoms of allergic dermatitis
are extremely dry skin, scaling, and redness with swelling and itching. The products
most likely to cause this condition are lipstick, nail polish, soap, hair preparations,
deodorants, and perfumes. Various drugs are being developed for the relief of
allergy sufferers. However, your best help is to convert to a cosmetic product to
which you have no harmful reaction. Remember that the product is not at fault or in
any way injurious; it is your particular sensitivity to it that creates the problem. A line
of hypo-allergenic cosmetics that are relatively free from substances that have been
found to create allergic reactions is on the market.
E X E R C I S E 1: Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a) investigation or study of people's behaviour,
opinions, etc.
b) of the nose
c) feeling of discomfort or pain
d) having lines or splits on its surface because it
is damaged
e) sign of illness, indicated by changes in the
body's condition
f) a skin condition or disease
g) becoming covered in hard, dry patches; coming
off in small, dry patches
h) becoming greater in size or rounder than
normal
i) unpleasant feeling on the skin which makes the
person want to scratch it
j) to be expected; probably the case
k) lessening or removal of pain, discomfort, etc.
I) change from one thing to another
m) harmful; damaging
n) relating to or belonging to only one; being
separate or different from others of the same
kind
o) not causing an allergic reaction; containing
fewer substances known to cause allergic
reactions
p) compared with others; comparatively
20 • ELS
E X E R CI S E 2 : Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. The writer advises those with allergic reactions to
A)
stop using soap
B) take anti-allergenic drugs
C) change their brand of cosmetics
D) avoid all cosmetics
E) complain to the manufacturer
2. It's likely that the aim of the survey was
A)
to test how well a particular brand of soap was selling
B) to aid the drug manufacturers in their development of remedies
C) to get evidence to support a legal claim for damages against a cosmetics company
D) to collect the information needed to force cosmetics companies to withdraw certain products
E) to get an idea of how women react physically to cosmetics
3. Certain products cause allergies because
A)
they are very low quality
B) the women are taking drugs which react adversely to the cosmetics
C) the women overuse them by as much as 25 percent
D) certain people are sensitive to their ingredients
E) the manufacturers use harmful ingredients because they are cheaper
E XE RCI S E 3: Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
He's having his old garage
into a photographic studio.
2.
I'm
tall, but even I can't reach that top shelf.
3.
One or two of the mugs are
, but most of them are in perfect condition.
4.
There's a/an
programme I'd like to watch this evening if no one has
any objections.
5.
I think that the cause of my eye
is the smoke from your cigarettes.
ELS 21
THE "JAZZ AGE"
Some of America's finest novelists began to write in the 1920s, or the "Jazz
Age", as this decade is sometimes termed. Older authors such as Theodore Dreiser
and Ellen Glasgow were still writing, but new authors wrote with new attitudes and
styles. Most of the serious novelists critically analyzed American society and ways of
life and tried to depict Americans as they really were. F. Scott Fitzgerald caught the
restless spirit of the 1920s in his
The Great Gatsby.
Ernest Hemingway depicted war
and disillusionment in his
The Sun Also Rises
and
A Farewell to Arms.
With his
direct, unadorned style and forceful dialogue, Hemingway set a pattern for much
future American literature. Sinclair Lewis, the first American to win the Nobel Prize
for Literature, satirized the American businessman and small town in his
Main Street
and
Babbitt.
His style was mediocre, but his work vividly dissected a large section of
American life.
E X E RC I S E 1: Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a)
period of ten years, e.g. 1960-1969
b) describe
c) unable to settle; unable to relax or be still;
wanting or needing to move
d) disappointment; state of having lost belief in
something
e) goodbye
f) weapons; guns
g) without decoration; plain
h) strong; powerful; confident
i) criticize, make fun of or attack people's
behaviour or society (for their wickedness,
foolishness, etc.)
j) neither very good nor very bad; second-rate
k) clearly; in detail
I) examine carefully part by part; analyze
m) one of the parts into which something can be
divided
22
EL S
E X E R C I S E 2: Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. Ernest Hemingway's style
A)
was extremely satirical
B) influenced a great many American writers
C) made him the first American to win the Nobel Prize for Literature
D) was criticized by most of the serious novelists
E) was analytical and critical
2. Until Sinclair Lewis,
A)
no other writer had used satire
B) American writing was considered mediocre
C) the only successful writer was Ernest Hemingway
D) American life did not feature in novels
E) no American author had been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature
3. According to the passage, many authors of the "Jazz Age"
A)
were disillusioned because of the war
B) received awards such as the Nobel Prize for Literature
C) had a mediocre style
D) wrote about the realities of American life
E) were criticized by American society
E X E RC I S E 3: Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
He had described his home town so
to me that on my first visit there, I
felt as if I had been there before.
2.
Can you pick me up in an hour as I have a few
to make before we
finally leave?
3. She gets really
if she stays in one place for longer than about three
months.
4.
I want a very simple,
dress with no ribbons, bows or lace.
5.
In his books, Charles Dickens clearly
the poverty of nineteenth-century
England.
ELS • 23
PACIFIC SALMON FOR THE JAPANESE
Nobody eats as much Pacific salmon as the Japanese, who consume the fish
raw, pickled, baked, salted, fried, smoked and put in soup. They eat salmon liver,
and salmon skulls, and they process the fish into burgers and sausage. They eat
300,000 tons of the fish each year, a third of the world's total catch. The center of it
all is Tokyo's Tsukiji fish market, the largest on earth. Long before sunrise, the
market is buzzing. Hundreds of men and women rush around between stalls, shout
orders at one another, slice fish, work the telephones, and joke under bright strings
of lights that shine down on acres of iced-down fish steaks, shark fillets, and thick
red slabs of tuna stacked like wood. The concrete floors are newly washed and
swept. The whole place smells fresh, like the sea.
EX E RC I S E 1: Find
words
or
phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a)
uncooked
b) (of food) preserved in salt water or vinegar
c) cooked by dry heat in the oven
d) cooked in a pan containing boiling oil or fat
e) bony part of the head which encases the brain
f) treat in a way that changes something's form in
order to make a product
g) move quickly, busily or excitedly
h) large stand or table on which goods are
displayed in a market
i) cut into thin, wide, flat pieces
j) kept cool with ice
k) thick, flat piece
I) neatly arranged in piles
m) hard building material made from a mixture of
cement and sand
24 •
ELS
E X E RC I S E 2: Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. It is clear from the passage that
A)
Pacific salmon are most commonly found in Japanese waters
B) Tokyo's Tsukiji fish market is close to the sea
C) the Japanese prepare Pacific salmon in a variety of ways
D) the only fish eaten in Japan is the Pacific salmon
E) the Japanese don't eat meat
2. In Tokyo's Tsukiji fish market
A)
only Pacific salmon are sold
B) salmon are processed into burgers and sausage
C) over 300,000 tons of fish are sold every year
D) only frozen fish are available
E) work starts very early in the morning
3. It is stated in the passage that
A)
the Japanese consume three times as many fish as the rest of the world
B) the Japanese eat more Pacific salmon than any other nation
C) fishing is Japan's biggest industry
D) the only fish market in Japan is Tokyo's Tsukiji
E) Tokyo's Tsukiji fish market sells a third of the world's total catch of fish
EX E RC I S E 3: Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
As I was leaving for work this morning, the market traders had just started setting up their
2. At the end of our road, there is a large factory, where meat is
into
salami and other products.
3.
Many dieticians say it is better to eat vegetables
because cooking
removes many of the nutrients.
4. That
office block, which has just been completed, really spoils the look
of our town.
5. You should
the potatoes quite thinly before cooking them, so use a
sharp knife.
ELS • 25
THE MUSEUM ROBBERY
It was, Italian authorities said later, as if the thieves had a catalog and knew just
what they were after. Armed bandits bound and gagged six unarmed guards,
entered a storeroom containing artifacts from the Roman town of Herculaneum, and
stole about 280 objects - gold rings, bracelets, earrings, and precious stones. All had
been discovered during excavations of the seaside town, buried by the same
eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79 that destroyed its larger and better-known
neighbor, Pompeii. Authorities said that the stolen items also included a small bronze
statue of Bacchus inlaid with copper and silver, a bronze vase, and a box of coins.
The total value of objects taken during the robbery was estimated at 1.6 million
dollars. Art historians and others criticized lax security that permitted two gunmen to
climb a wall, enter the site, and break through a flimsy partition to get into the room
where the artifacts were kept. Some of the critics also complained that the guards
were unarmed. Officials said it would be hard for anyone to sell the stolen objects
because all had been catalogued and photographed, and most had been exhibited
and published.
EX E R C I S E 1
:
Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMNB
a)
carrying a weapon, especially a gun
b) robber carrying a weapon; one of a gang
c) tie up tightly with rope or string
d) tie a piece of cloth round the mouth to prevent
speaking or shouting
e) something made by man, usually of
archaeological interest
f) diamonds, rubies, emeralds, etc.
g) cover with soil, rocks, etc.
h) explosion of a volcano
i) one of a collection or list of things
j) having pieces of metal, wood, etc., set into the
surface of another kind of metal, wood, etc., so
that the resulting surface is smooth and level,
and a design or pattern is formed
k) piece of metal used as money
I) not careful, strict or obeying rules; inattentive
m) made of light, thin material, therefore weak and
easily damaged
n) thin wall, or screen, dividing two rooms, or one
room into separate parts
26 • ELS
E X E R C I S E 2: Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. It is stated in the passage that the stolen goods
A)
were the most valuable items in the museum
B) were part of the museum's exhibition
C) have now been pictured in a catalog to make resale impossible
D) consisted entirely of jewelry
E) were too well-known to be sold easily
2. The artifacts stolen from the museum
A)
came from the ancient city of Pompeii
B) were not on display
C) had never been exhibited in the museum
D) were all made in A.D. 79
E) were all made of metal
3. Some people commented that
A)
the guards shouldn't have been carrying guns
B) the statue of Bacchus was the most valuable item
C) the thieves had clearly been in possession of a catalog
D) the thieves were able to take advantage of poor security
E) it was strange that none of the guards were harmed
EX E R C I S E 3: Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE
1.
1.
The box the goods were packed in was so
that it fell apart in the post.
2. The prisoners were made to stand in a line with their hands
behind
their backs.
3.
Procedures seem to be so
in that hospital that I doubt that any
attention is paid to hygiene at all.
4.
From the map, they guessed that the treasure was
in a deserted plot
of land, about two hundred metres to the east of the castle.
5.
She sat quietly on one side of the
listening to their conversation.
ELS
27
READING
This is an age of speed! Technological advance has brought jet airplanes and
streamlined trains whizzing over transportation lines, helicopters carrying the mail,
missiles hurtling through space; telegraphs, long-distance phones, radio, television,
telstar and flashing communications. These are just a few examples of the
Revolution in Speed, which is hastening us along in its breathless velocity.
As for reading, thousands of newspapers, hundreds of magazines and dozens
of books roll from the presses daily, speeded by technological invention. Yet no one
has enough time to read as much as he would wish. We hurry all day long - workers
hurry to their jobs in the morning and they hurry through the working hours in an
attempt to accomplish as much as possible. After work they hurry home to hurry out
in the evening to a business dinner, a social function, or one of many fascinating
diversions. There is more reading to be done than ever before and less time in
which to do it! What is the answer? Not more time in which to read, Out the ability to
read more in the time we have.
(From
Reading Instructions for Today's Children
by Nila Banton Smith)
EX E RC I S E 1
:
Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMNB
a) modernized; made smoother and thus faster
b) go extremely fast
c) rush or fly violently
d) make faster; go or move faster
e) out of breath
f) speed
g) when it comes to
h) achieve; do; finish
i) very interesting and attractive
j) leisure activities
28
ELS
E XE RC I S E 2: Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. Technological advance
A)
made people's lives easier, but caused many of them to feel anxious because of its speed
B) made speed the characteristic of our age, reflecting it onto our everyday life as well
C) left people no time to read, and as a result television viewing became so commonplace
D) decreased interest in reading though reading materials increased in number enormously
E) is greatest in the area of telecommunications
2. At work, as well as in their personal lives, people
A)
have to acquire different skills to use the new machinery
B) should set aside more time for reading than they do for recreation
C) have to learn as much about the new technology as possible
D) have to act hurriedly so as to succeed in as many things as possible
E) should cut down on their activities so as to have more time for reading
3. The writer suggests that
A)
people should find a way to increase the amount of their reading in the limited time they are
left
B) whatever the person's job is, he has to read to keep pace with the speed of our age
C) the time spent on social functions and recreation can be reduced in order to spare more time
for reading
D) people should learn to make a good selection of what to read in the little time they have
E) more time for reading can only be achieved with a well-organized daily routine, without
hurrying to do everyting
E X E R C I S E 3: Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
Because I haven't had any exercise for many years, even running for the bus leaves me
these days.
2.
I have been working non-stop all day, but I don't seem to have
very
much.
3.
I found the lecture absolutely
despite my previous reservations about
the speaker.
4.
She
to reach her destination as it was gradually getting dark.
5.
Everybody in the family seems to have forgotten about that tragic event, but
me, I've never stopped thinking about it.
ELS • 29
READING TO THE CHILD
It is advisable for parents to read to their children at preschool and early primary
levels. When they read to a child from story books, comic strips of the better type,
and children's magazines, he becomes aware that books, magazines, and
newspapers hold something of interest and amusement for him. He also comes to
realize that this "something" which he enjoys is tightly locked within black and white
symbols, and that these symbols can be unlocked only when one knows how to
read. This awareness and interest form a springboard from which he can leap into
learning to read in school, and into the voluntary reading of self-selected books.
Parents, however, should not continue reading to their child year after year as he
passes through the elementary grades. If the child can only get his reading pleasure
through his parents' efforts, he may not have much incentive for doing the reading
himself. Parents should decrease their reading to the child as he learns to read and
put him on his own as soon as possible.
(From
Reading Instructions for Today's Children
by Nila Banton Smith)
30 • ELS
E X E RC I S E 1:
Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a)
cartoon stories
b) entertainment
c) strictly; securely
d) released
e) state of being conscious
f) create; constitute
g)
a
launch towards a higher level
h) jump
i) willing
j) chosen on one's own
k) advance; proceed
(phrasal verb)
I) motive
m) by himself
(phrase)
E X E RCI S E 2: Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. Starting to read to a child at an early age
A)
enables him to amuse himself with the comic strips
B) stimulates his wish to read by himself
C) makes it possible for him to select his own books
D) is essential during the preschool period
E) makes him a successful student in elementary school
2. If parents go on reading to the child despite his acquiring this ability
A)
they may direct him, even if unconsciously, to appreciate what they themselves do
B) the child can't learn to make a good selection of what to read
C) the child is likely to lack the motivation to read on his own
D) he can never be fluent in reading
E) he becomes a listener rather than a reader
3. Parents are advised
A)
to teach the child to read before he starts elementary school
B) to start reading with amusing stories so that the child becomes more interested in reading
C) to leave the child on his own when he no longer gets any pleasure from being read to
D) to stop reading to the child when he starts elementary school so that they don't interfere with
the teacher's instructions
E) to stop reading to their child once he has sufficiently acquired reading ability
EX E R C I S E 3: Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE1.
1.
All of the money spent by charities comes from
contributions.
2. The cat
onto the wall, off the other side, and then ran across the
neighbour's garden.
3. The children's new toys provided them with hours of
4.
Before learning to
the letters, young children have to spend a lot of
time drawing lines.
5.
If you don't fasten the rope
, it may come undone.
ELS • 3 1
J US T F O R P L E A SU R E
In all civilizations, articles are consumed that have no nutrient value but make
the food more attractive, or give pleasure. Spices, condiments, herbs, vinegar and
pickles are used for this purpose. There is no objection to them for the normal
stomach, and there is no evidence that they can cause damage to the normal
stomach lining.
Tea, coffee, manufactured drinks, and alcohol also form part of the diet. They
have no nutritive value but add to the pleasure of a meal, in moderation. Tea and
coffee both contain caffeine, which is a mild stimulant and also causes the kidneys
to excrete more water. They may cause sleeplessness, but not all people are
affected. Alcohol, if not consumed excessively by adults, cannot be strongly objected
to on medical grounds.
32 • ELS
E X E R C I S E 1: Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a)
society, usually as considered in terms of
culture and progress
b) things; items
c) eat; use up
d) nourishing
e) collective name for pepper, cinnamon, ginger,
etc.
f) flavours added after cooking, for example salt,
mustard, etc.
g) collective name for parsley, mint, dill, etc.
h) inside layer
i) produced in factories
j) not using or doing too much
(phrase)
k) light drug which increases bodily or mental
activity
(two words)
I) discharge from the system
m) too much
n) for any medical reasons
(phrase)
E X E R C I S E 2: Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. The feature which such items as spices, condiments, herbs, vinegar, and pickles have
in common is that
A)
they are all manufactured rather than natural
B) they can all do harm to the stomach lining
C) each can be classified as a mild stimulant
D) they are not nutritious but give flavouring to food
E) they are not favoured on medical grounds
2. From a medical point of view,
A)
there is a close link between the person's age and the amount of alcohol he drinks
B) eating foods that have no nutritive value does nothing but tire out the stomach
C) alcohol isn't considered very harmful when drunk in moderate amounts by adults
D) it is important from a psychological point of view to eat meals that are palatable as well as
nutritious
E) tea and coffee are the most significant factors in kidney failure
3. The writer states that
A)
the effect of coffee and tea on sleep can vary from person to person
B) manufactured drinks are more harmful than tea and coffee
C) tea, coffee and manufactured drinks are usually consumed more when the person is dieting
D) kidneys are the organs which are affected most when tea and coffee are drunk excessively
E) people should try as much as possible to avoid eating foods lacking nutrient value
EX E RC I S E 3: Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
Ancient
often worshipped things which were related to nature, such as
the sun, the wind, hurricanes, etc.
2.
Many doctors say that wine drunk
may actually be beneficial to health,
although too much is clearly undesirable.
3. Because of the number of souvenirs he'd bought, his suitcase was
heavy and he had to pay an extra charge at the airport check-in.
4. Junk food, such as hamburgers, hot dogs and chips, is a very poor
source.
5. The building was totally
by fire.
ELS 33
EX E R C I S E 2: Choose the correct answer according to the passage
1. The rabbits
A)
were finally exterminated, but only after a long struggle
B), had been in Australia for a long time, growing in number with each year, when the first
settlers arrived there
C) were to be killed, for they were carrying a fatal virus which was also dangerous for human
beings
D) increased in number rapidly in Australia, because nothing interfered with their breeding there
E) soon showed an incredible resistance to the fatal virus passed on to them via the mosquitoes
2. The Australians
A)
had come there from various countries around the world
B) wanted to get rid of the rabbits because they were destroying pasture that could be used for
sheep and cattle
C) were making their living merely by raising sheep and cattle on their farms
D) hadn't expected to meet with such a big rabbit population on their new land
E) weren't wise enough to get rid of the rabbits by their own efforts
3. We can conclude from the passage that
A)
the rabbits were reduced in number through a fatal virus deliberately spread by a kind of
mosquito
B) it had become a matter of life and death for the people in Australia to get rid of the rabbits
C) though it was hazardous for themselves as well, the settlers nonetheless encouraged the
spread of the epidemic
D) being a pioneer requires a man or woman to be prepared to face certain risky conditions
E) Australians today owe their prosperous life to the efforts of their enterprising ancestors
EX E RCI S E 3: Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
Old people and very young children are often more
to infection than
other age groups.
2.
Since the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear reactor disaster, cases of childhood thyroid cancer in the
area have
to 80 times the world average.
3. A lot of small businesses were set up in Britain during the 1980s by
individuals, who were encouraged by the government.
4. The flood caused great
to the crops as well as to the houses.
5.
If we cut down on some of our luxuries, our financial problems can be considerably
WEANING
Weaning is a very delicate process, important for the whole of a child's life. It is
not a problem of nourishment, but of the spirit. This side of the problem is all but
neglected. We must be careful to substitute some other kind of pleasure to take the
place of the original pleasure of the mother's breast. The process of weaning can be
carried out so that the child himself, with a little encouragement, will choose a new
and wider form of pleasure, and so pass lightly through this, the most intense,
emotional experience of life. If the change, when its time comes, is violently made,
desire will not go forwards to new fields and to wider experience of mind, but
backwards to some substitute pleasure of the same type as the one to be
surrendered. Thumb-sucking, an obvious substitute, is the commonest.
(From
Talks to Parents and Teachers
by Homer Lane)
E X E R C IS E 1: Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a)
accustoming a baby to food other than its
mother's milk
b) requiring great care, caution or attention
c) connected series of actions
d) food
e) psychological and emotional part of a person
,
f) ignored
g) replace; take the place of
h) support; urging
i) change without difficulty
(phrase)
j) very strong; highly felt
k) strong wish
I) be given up
36 •
ELS
E X E R CI S E 2: Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. In the passage, it is emphasized that during the process of weaning
A)
children generally become very delicate
B) parents have difficulty knowing what to feed the child
C) the child's capacities go backwards for a while rather than forwards
D) the child's interest is centered most intensely in the mother
E) the child must be provided with another pleasure so that the adjustment is made easier
2. The writer states that
A)
it's usually the parent that surrenders to the child's desire for an unpleasant substitute
B) when weaning is done forcefully, it's most commonly substituted for by thumb-sucking
C) the parent should ask someone more experienced for help during the process of weaning
D) the more emotional the child, the more intense his desire for breast-feeding
E) the parent should be patient with the child even if he becomes rather irritable
3. The writer points out that though it is virtually always ignored,
A)
the food the child is given during weaning should be delicious enough to satisfy his appetite
B) the spiritual effect of weaning is lifelong
C) breast-feeding should be lengthened as long as possible
D) the substitute for weaning should be left to the child's choice
E) the child shouldn't be forced to develop new capabilities during weaning
E X E R C I S E 3: Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
If you are on a diet, you can
saccharin for sugar, but it doesn't taste as
nice.
2
operations, such as eye surgery, require the surgeon to have a very
steady hand.
3. Having been
for many years, the house was in a very poor condition.
4.
Last summer, the heat in the south of the country was so
that very few
of the tourists could bear it.
5.
Regular exercise not only maintains the body's fitness, but also looks after the
ELS 37
TH E C O M P UT E R
The computer is basically a device for ingesting, judging, and otherwise
processing or usefully modifying knowledge. Thus it enlarges brainpower in the
same way that other man-made machines enlarge muscle power. Like man, the
computer expresses knowledge in terms of symbols; man's symbols are letters and
numbers, and the machine's symbols are electromagnetic impulses that represent
letters and numbers. Although man must usually instruct or program the machine
minutely, its chief present advantage is that it can manipulate symbols a million
times faster than a man with pencil and paper, and can make calculations in a few
minutes that might take man alone a century. An expert has
remarked that the difference between doing a calculation by
hand and by computer is the difference between having one
dollar and having a million. Sometimes the difference is
infinite; only a computer can calculate swiftly enough to
analyze the data from a satellite, or to enable man to control
the flight of a missile.
E X E R C IS E 1: Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a)
fundamentally
b) something invented for a special purpose
c) take in
d) change slightly
e) make bigger
f) intellectual capability
g) bodily strength
,
h) as indicated by; in units of
(phrase)
i) in detail
j) handle skilfully
k) process of finding a result through figures
I) a hundred years
m) say; comment
n) without end
o) very quickly
38 •
ELS
E XE R C I S E 2: Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. Whereas some capacities of the computer are comparable with man's
A)
it still can't respond satisfactorily to the requirements of the modern world
B) the computer uses electromagnetic impulses that stand for letters and numbers
C) there are certain situations which only a computer can handle
D) the computer helps man improve his brainpower rather than his muscle power
E) man has been working on computers in order to increase their storage capacity
2. The writer states that
A)
the way the computer expresses knowledge is similar to man's
B) the capacities of the computer are currently limited to calculating and storing information
C) man should have developed such a miraculous device a century ago
D) the advantages of the computer are infinite
E) scientists are working on a project to develop a computer that will analyze, on its own, the
data from a satellite
3. One can conclude from the passage that the computer
A)
will help to increase goodwill between nations
B) is a great time-saver for man, in addition to its other benefits
C) may eliminate the hostile feelings between nations by deterring them from starting wars
D) may give rise to wars between nations by enabling them to control the flight of a missile from
a distance
E) is causing unemployment in those countries where it is widely used
E XE RC I S E 3: Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
A lot of people have
upon the change in the air quality since the new
anti-pollution laws have been implemented.
2.
Frozen food,
convenience, has a lot to offer, but its nutritive value is
open to doubt.
3.
His horse-riding accident caused him to dislocate his shoulder; however, the physiotherapist
was able to
it back into place successfully.
4.
"I wish someone would invent a
to do the ironing for me!" sighed the
tired housewife.
5. Although it is man who invented the computer, no man can
the same
amount of information as it.
ELS • 39
r
WHEN SEIZED WITH CRAMP
Perhaps more swimmers have been drowned by cramp than by anything else, and
only those who have suffered from it can conceive its fatal power. Even good swimmers,
when seized with cramp, have been known to sink instantly, overcome with the sudden
pain, and nothing can save the victim but the greatest presence of mind.
The usual spot where the cramp is felt is the calf of the leg; and it sometimes comes
with such violence that the muscles are gathered up into knots. There is only one method
of proceeding under such circumstances: to turn on one's back at once, kick the leg out
in the air, disregarding the pain, and rub the spot smartly with one hand, while the other
is employed in paddling towards shore.
These directions are easy enough to give, but quite difficult to obey; cramp seems to
deprive the sufferer of all reason for the time, and it seems to overpower him with
mingled pain and terror. Therefore, the method of saving a person drowning because of
cramp demands great practice. The chief difficulty lies in the fact that a person who
cannot swim feels, in deep water, much as if he were falling through air, and
consequently clutches instinctively at the nearest object. If he succeeds in grasping the
person who is trying to save him, both will probably sink together. Every precaution
should be taken to prevent such a misfortune and the drowning man should always be
seized from behind and pushed forwards.
E X E R C I S E 1: Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a)
imagine; believe; understand
b) move downwards below the surface of the
water
c) happening immediately; at once
d) the ability to act quickly and sensibly in a
difficult situation
(phrase)
e) place; position
f) (of muscles) swelling out from the surface of
the skin - bulging, tense and hard
g) carry on; continue
h) ignore
i) move one's hand or hands backwards and
forwards oyer something
j) (of movements and action) sharply and quickly;
with vigour
k) move slowly through the water moving your
hands up and down
I) take away something from someone, leaving
him in need of it
m) the ability to think
n) have such a strong effect on as to make
helpless or ineffective
o) mixed
p) try to seize or grasp
(phrase)
q) naturally; without thinking
4 0
ELS
E X ER CI S E 2: Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. According to the passage, although the correct course of action for cramp is simple,
A)
the pain caused by it takes a long time to disappear
B) it is clear that few people remember to follow it
C) it cannot be applied without the help of another person
D) barely anyone has ever survived an attack in water
E) it isn't easy to put into practice
2. According to the passage, the force of cramp is so great that
A)
it is hopeless to try and save a victim
B) only previous victims can imagine it
C) rubbing the spot affected is useless
D) most people affected never go swimming again
E) it is impossible to move once affected
3. The author warns readers that
A)
one should not attempt to help someone struck by cramp
B) rescuers should approach a victim head-on
C) suffering cramp while swimming is almost always fatal
D) rescuers can be dragged down with the victim
E) once struck with cramp while swimming, the person must stay still and wait for assistance
E X E RC I S E 3: Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
We have been
of sleep for the past two nights because our baby has
been unwell.
2.
It's not possible to
the thrill of skiing without trying it for yourself.
3.
Despite the pain from his broken ankle, the mountaineer had the
to
light a fire so that he could be spotted by the rescue helicopter.
4.
Sarah's joy at being offered a transfer to the Swiss branch of the bank was
with sadness because she knew she would have to leave all her
friends at the office.
5. After the two brothers returned home from school on that snowy night, their mother
their feet until the blood started to flow again and their frozen feet
started to warm up.
ELS Q4X
A "SISSY" OR A "TOM-BOY"
In most societies differences in play between boys and girls are not merely
expected, but actively encouraged. In our own culture, only very young boys may be
allowed to play with their sisters' dolls occasionally without ridicule or remonstrance.
And even they are rarely given dolls of their own, although teddies and stuffed
animals may be allowed. A seven-year-old boy who enjoys tucking teddies up in cots
is likely to be ridiculed if he does it too often. Similarly, girls do enjoy playing with toy
cars and train sets, but are rarely given these as presents. Older girls particularly are
discouraged from playing boisterous games and may be labelled "torn-boys" if they
do not conform to the quieter, gentler, less aggressive activities expected of them.
Boys who abstain from rough games, or prefer reading or playing the piano are in
danger of being labelled "sissy".
E X E R C I S E 1: Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a)
knowingly; deliberately
b) toy resembling a person
c) from time to time
d) making fun of
e) scolding
f) completely filled with something like cotton, etc
g) bed for a baby
h) especially
i) rough and noisy
j) give a name to, often unwanted
k) girl who behaves like a boy
I) adapt oneself to
(phrasal verb)
m) hold oneself back
n) boy who behaves like a girl
42
ELS
E X E R C I S E 2: Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. It's stated in the passage that
A)
babies are born with certain tendencies depending on their sexes
B) the child's sex is taken into consideration when it is presented with a toy
C) there must be certain games which both boys and girls can play together
D) it's cruel to call a child a "torn-boy" or a "sissy" when it doesn't conform to the norms of
society
E) boisterous or aggressive games are considered suitable for neither gender
2. According to the writer, the tendency that dominates society is that
A)
children should be allowed to play with whatever toy they like
B) the discrimination against toys regarded as suitable for boys or girls only increases the child's
interest in them
C) the child should be discouraged from playing with toys special to the other sex, without the
parents being too repressive
D) the child should be directed from an early age to behave in accordance with its own sex
E) such activities as reading and playing the piano should be common to both genders
3. We can conclude from the passage that
A)
psychologists are attempting to eliminate sex discrimination in society
B) girls aren't given toy cars and train sets as presents, but anyway, they instinctively haven't
much interest in them
C) the child's choice in games and toys is directed according to the norms of society rather than
to his interests
D) the child only grows interested in the toys belonging to the opposite sex when there is a
member of that sex in his or her vicinity
E) if the child's attention weren't drawn to such discrimination through prohibitions, he would
instinctively behave suitably for his own gender
EX E RC I S E 3: Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
He couldn't agree with any of the political parties at the recent election, so he chose to
from voting.
2.
I
like to indulge myself with a big bar of chocolate.
3. Our parents would like us to
how they are, but we don't always agree
because we'd rather look and act differently from them.
4. To overcome her fear of water, she
decided to take a boat trip.
5. You have to be
careful when using certain cleaning fluids, as they can
be very dangerous.
ELS 43
THE CHAIN OF HOPE
The children who are cared for by the Chain of Hope come from countries which
are stricken by poverty or torn by conflict. They are children who have been injured by a
mine or an exploding shell, who have been born with deformities, who have caught
diseases or who suffer from the after-effects of injuries. A very simple operation can often
save them. But there is usually no prospect of such surgery in their own countries, owing
to the lack of specialized expertise and technical resources.
"Faced with this terrible fact," says Professor Alain Deloche, a heart surgeon, "a
simple idea took root: to bring these children to France, to provide them with operations,
and then send them home, cured, to their families."
To achieve this, continues Professor Deloche, "one simply needs to bring into action
a series of links in a chain of skills, asking people with all types of expertise to join in.
This project has a powerful appeal. Everyone can participate and become a link in the
chain."
And so, well-known surgeons, the most highly skilled in their fields, operate free of
charge in their hospitals throughout France.
Similarly, ambulances provide the children with free transport, and the airlines Air
France and UTA offer complimentary tickets. At the end of the chain, one finds a network
of families who take the children in free of charge during their recovery.
(From the United Nations' monthly magazine
Refugees)
EX E RC I S E 1: Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a)
suffering very badly from being poor
(phrase)
b) divided because of war
(phrase)
c) physical abnormality
d) expectation; hope
e) become established
(phrase)
f) healed
g) succeed in
h) only; merely
i) put into operation
(phrase)
j) connection
k) take part
I) greatly
m) without payment
(phrase)
n) given out of kindness; free
o) connected system
4 4
ELS
E X E R C I S E 2: Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. "The Chain of Hope" is an organization
A)
formed as a result of the appeals of surgeons from under-developed countries
B) which operates throughout the world with surgeons well-known in their fields
C) which deals with the health problems of poor children in France
D) in which every member of society can take part
E) which is trying to improve the quality of health services in poverty-stricken countries
2. The children
A)
are cared for voluntarily by families after the operation until they are well enough to be sent
back home
B) are operated on by the Chain of Hope, because they come from poor families not able to
afford such operations
C) are adopted by French families after the operation if they have no family in their own
countries to return to
D) are chosen especially from countries where there is a war going on
E) are brought to France by Air France or UTA on reduced fares
3. We can conclude from the passage that
A)
the speaker Professor Alain Deloche complains about not receiving sufficient support from
the community
B) the aim of the organization in the long term is to spread its works to other developed
countries as well
C) the children operated on in France are those whose own countries lack the requirements for
such operations
D) one has to possess some kind of expertise to become a link in the chain
E) the organization tries to build hospitals throughout France where the most skilled surgeons
will perform their operations
E X E R C I S E 3: Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
The film "The Elephant Man" was a true story based on a man who suffered most of his life
because of his physical
2. A lot more money needs to be spent before the rail
can be considered
truly efficient.
3. The Bosphorus and Fatih Sultan Mehmet bridges are the road
between
the European and Asian sides of Istanbul.
4. The entrance into mosques in Istanbul is
for tourists; however,
donations towards the upkeep are often given.
5. Many highly educated people have nö
of employment due to the
current economic crisis.
ELS • 45
•
E XE RC I S E 2: Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. Charles Chaplin began to gain in popularity as a comedian
A)
as soon as he arrived in America
B) only when he created his own individual style, based on many borrowed ideas
C) when he copied other comedians already famous at that time
D) after he had directed a few silent movies
E) only after he began to use a bowler hat and a walking stick
2. It is stated in the passage that
A)
Chaplin showed great talent as a music-hall artist in his childhood
B) Chaplin's parents were both stars on the stage
C) Chaplin's parents hoped that their son would also become a star one day
D) directing films contributed greatly to Chaplin's becoming famous as a comedian
E) Chaplin was a director as well as being a very popular actor
3. We can infer from the passage that the accessories Chaplin used
A)
originated from the appearance of a taxi driver in London
B) had to be stolen from other comedians because of his lack of money
C) were each given certain functions in his performances
D) were borrowed from several places which helped actors at that time
E) made him the king of silent movies of his time
E X E R CI S E 3: Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
A lot of people don't believe that ice-cream
chips, but I really enjoy
them together.
2. Without the
of our Nepalese guide, we would never have succeeded in
climbing Mt. Everest.
3.
I don't like
coffee as much as filtered coffee.
4.
I've been looking at the computer screen all day, and now my eyes are really
5.
Hurting another human being can never be
under any circumstances.
ELS • 47
TO CURE THE CRUELTY OF CHILDREN
Psychologists believe that the combative and aggressive instinct is permanent in
all human beings; but it is probable that, with a correct understanding of children, the
instinct for aggression need not survive childhood. It's certain that to repress the
aggressiveness of a child will make him later more aggressive and anti-social; he will
later on revenge himself for his sufferings by criminality or by acts of cruelty. The
desire to hurt living things generally appears in the child who has been given a
strong hatred of authority. This problem of cruelty is very difficult to handle. It
requires the parents to use good temper and good sense, trying to find out where
the child's real interests lie and guiding its energy to these channels. Except in the
worst cases, sympathetic treatment by parents and teachers will gradually suffice to
cure, for it will give back self-confidence, self-love, and a belief in life, and it is the
absence of these which is the cause of cruelty.
EX E R C I S E 1: Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a)
eager to fight or argue
b) natural behaviour, without thought or plan
c) continue to exist or live
d) control; stop feelings from showing
e) behaving in a way that most other people don't
like or think is right
f) hurt or punish someone when we believe
wrong has been done to us
(two words)
g) things that make someone feel pain or
unhappiness
h) wish; strong feeling of want
i) the ability to behave well and make good
decisions
j) ways; directions
k) understanding, especially of someone's
feelings
I) be enough to do something, or to meet a need
48 •
ELS
E X ER C I S E 2: Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. According to psychologists
A)
the instinct for aggression normally exists only during childhood
B) if the child's aggressive instincts can't be eliminated, he'll revenge himself in his later life
C) aggressiveness is an instinct which exists in all human beings
D) the problem of cruelty is too difficult for parents to deal with on their own
E) combative and aggressive instincts should be repressed in childhood so that the person
won't turn out to be a cruel adult
2. Psychologists suggest that to cure cruelty,
A)
first of all, the causes of it should be found out so that the best results can be obtained
B) the child should be directed to spending his energy on what he is really interested in
C) the child should be persuaded to give up his desire to hurt living things
D) parents and teachers should work in cooperation with psychologists
E) the child should be provided with an environment which will keep him in contact with society
3. It's pointed out in the passage that
A)
aggressiveness is the result of parents using authoritative approaches against the child
B) the aggressive instinct of a person can only be cured by psychologists
C) parents are not aware of the dangers of repressing the aggressive instinct in the child
D) if a child has a desire to hurt living things, parents should use more authority on him
E) in serious cases of cruelty, parents' or teachers' understanding approach won't be a sufficient
cure
EX ERC IS E 3: Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
I've always had a
to stop working and travel the world.
2.
She was unable to
her anger when she gave the manager her list of
complaints.
3. The teacher was very
when her student explained how his family
problems were affecting his studies.
4. There is no need to take medicine if having a good rest will
5.
If you had any
, you wouldn't have tried to carry those heavy bags with
your bad back!
ELS
49
HEADSET STEREOS
Most headset stereos have one thing in
common: they can cause hearing loss.
Studies have shown that sound levels from the
machines can reach 115 decibels or more - roughly
equivalent to standing 100 feet from a commercial jet at the moment of take-off. At
that level, permanent hearing damage can occur after just 15 minutes. And the
earlier a child begins using a headset, the more damage can accumulate. Loud
noise causes hearing loss by killing irreplaceable hair cells in the inner ear. Normally,
the process occurs slowly as people age, but noise damage can accelerate it.
Noise-induced hearing loss is insidious; damage may not be apparent until later
in life. Since headsets are used privately, parents often don't realize how loud their
children's music is.
EX E R C I S E 1: Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a) any musical equipment which can be listened
to privately by wearing a device on the head
which covers, or fits into the ears
b) having the same characteristics
(phrase)
c) reduced, or even destroyed ability to hear
d) nearly; approximately
e) the same as or similar to
(phrase)
f) used for business and making money
g) increase over a period of time
h) cannot be replaced
i) make something happen faster or sooner
j) caused by sound
k) doing harm gradually and without being noticed
I) clearly seen or understood
5 0
ELS
E X ER CI S E 2: Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. The effect of loud noise, as stated in the passage
A)
is not always noticed before it has already damaged the ear
B) is greater as people become older
C) caused by commercial jets is irreparable
D) is more damaging for the ear than anything else
E) can be dangerous if the person is standing 100 feet from the source of sound
2. The normal process of hearing loss
A)
can start at any age, depending upon the condition of the person's ears
B) can be sped up by the harm done by loud noise
C) occurs if the person is frequently subjected to loud noise
D) is noticed only when irreplaceable hair cells in the inner ear have been killed
E) is caused when sound levels from machines reach 115 decibels or more
3. Unable to hear the music their child is listening to through a headset, parents
A)
are advised not to buy one for their child
B) can't easily understand what kind of music he is interested in
C) are advised to take the child to the doctor more frequently to have his ears checked
D) don't have the opportunity to control the intensity of the sound
E) don't know that the intensity of the sound from the music set is almost equal to that from a
commercial jet
E X E R CI S E 3: Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
My sister and I don't have much
; we don't even like the same music,
2.
The amount of damage done by the fire was only
after it had been
extinguished.
3.
Petroleum is a/an
resource and is being used up very fast. People
should invest more in renewable energy before it is too late.
4. There is a bus
every ten minutes, so you won't have to wait long.
5. Carbon monoxide is a/an
gas, so people do not notice when they are
being poisoned by it.
ELS • 5 1
THE REASONS FOR RAPID POPULATION GROWTH
Statistics show that rapid population growth creates problems for developing
countries. So why don't people have fewer children? Statistics from the developed
countries suggest that it is only when people's living standards begin to rise that birth
rates begin to fall. There are good reasons for this. Poor countries cannot afford
social services and old age pensions, and people's incomes are so low they have
nothing to spare for savings. As a result, people look to their children to provide
them with security in their old age. Having a large family can be a form of insurance.
And even while they are still quite young, children can do a lot of useful jobs on a
small farm. So poor people in a developing country will need to see clear signs of
much better conditions ahead before they can think of having smaller families. But
their conditions cannot be improved unless there is a reduction in the rate at which
population is increasing. This will depend on a very much wider acceptance of family
planning and this, in turn, will mean basic changes in attitudes.
E X E R C I S E 1: Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMNB
a)
money paid periodically by the government to
people who have retired
(phrase)
b) wages; salaries; money earned, usually, from
work
c) money kept, often in a bank, for use at a later
time
d) depend or rely on someone; expect or hope
someone will help
(phrase)
e) the act of agreeing to do or use something
f) as a result; in proper order or sequence
g) fundamental
h) way of thinking or feeling
52 • ELS
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11»
E X E R C I S E 2: Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. According to the writer, people in poor countries have a lot of children mainly because
A)
they rely on them for support during their old age
B) they aren't yet prepared for family planning due to their religious beliefs
C) they usually become involved with farming, which makes it easier for them to be fed
D) methods of family planning are not being satisfactorily practised in those countries
E) they receive government support for every child
2. The writer points out that, before deciding upon family planning
A)
governments of poor countries should increase the amount of old age pensions
B) developed countries should help developing ones to improve their standards of living
C) governments of developing countries must forbid parents to use child labour on farms
D) people in poor countries want to be sure of their future
E) people in poor countries must be educated by social services, being clearly shown the
advantages of having fewer children
3. We can conclude from the writer's statements that birth rates in developed countries
A)
should be higher so that the population can meet the demand for manpower
B) can't be reduced without strict family planning
C) decreased as standards of living increased
D) will go on increasing unless people change their attitudes radically
E) are now keeping pace with economic growth
EX E RC I S E 3: Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
Many people believe that the British have a kinder
to their animals
than they do to their children!
2. The elimination of pollution in the seas round Istanbul will
, lead to the
increase in the number and variety offish to be found.
3.
If I ever have a really serious problem, I know that I can always
my
friends for help.
4. The
ingredients for any cake are flour, butter, eggs and sugar.
5. My monthly
is barely enough to pay for the essentials.
ELS • 53
LIFE AFTER DEATH
Nearly all religions include the belief that human beings survive death in some
form. For many people, such as the Balinese, a funeral symbolizes the passage
from one life to another, rather than the end of a person's existence. In Bali, a
cremation is therefore a time of joy and celebration. On the morning of the
cremation, friends and relatives gather to pay their last respects and to eat and drink §
with the family. There is then a procession to the cremation ground, some men
carrying the corpse in a tower built of bamboo and paper, and other men carrying a
special container called a sarcophagus, which may be in the shape of a cow or a
bull. At the cremation ground the body is transferred to the sarcophagus and when it
has been reduced to ashes and the soul released, there is a happy noisy procession
to the sea, where the ashes are scattered. This last section of the ceremony
represents cleansing and purification.
E X E R C I S E 1: Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a)
ceremony held when somebody has died
b) journey; transition
c) ceremony during which a dead body is burnt
d) great happiness
e) occasion when people get together to enjoy
themselves because something special has
happened
f) come together in a group
g) show one's good opinion of someone who has
died, e.g., by attending a funeral
(phrase)
h) line of people who are going somewhere
together for a special reason
i) dead body
j) something which you can put things in, e.g., a
box
k) move to a different place
I) the part of a person which is not physical and
therefore it's commonly held that it does not die
when the body dies
m) throw things so that they spread over a large
area
n) freeing from anything unpleasant or evil
o) removal of sins in a religious ceremony
5 4 U E LS
EX E R C I S E 2: Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. It's clear from the passage that
A)
in Bali, the closest relatives carry the corpse to the cremation ground
B) Balinese people burn dead bodies and scatter the ashes into the sea
C) Balinese people put the ashes of the dead person in a special container called a
sarcophagus
D) in Bali, the family of the dead person has to sacrifice a cow or a bull before the cremation
E) in Bali, dead bodies are burnt in a tower built of bamboo and paper
2. For Balinese people, funerals are not sad occasions because
A)
for them, death means the end of a sorrowful life on earth
B) all the members of a family come together on the morning of the funeral
C) they believe that the dead continue to live in another life
D) they think funerals enable them to show their respect for the dead
E) the existence of a person, according to their beliefs, should be celebrated
3. The writer states that, according to the beliefs of almost all religions
A)
people continue to exist in some form after death
B) cremation is essential for cleansing and purification
C) funerals are celebrated with joy and happiness
D) relatives gather on the morning of the funeral to pay their last respects to the dead person
E) the container in which the corpse is placed is made in the shape of a cow or a bull
EX E R CI S E 3: Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
If you can't find a
big enough to hold all of this stuff, we'll have to use
two smaller ones.
2. The footballer was unhappy at his club, so the manager decided to
him to another club.
3.
Everybody
around the ambulance to see what was happening.
4.
I have an enormous family, but I don't know most of my relatives as they are
all over the world.
5. The carnival was a noisy, colourful
of adults and children, all wearing
costumes and dancing and singing.
ELS • 55
NOTTING HILL CARNIVAL
Notting Hill Carnival is held in London each August bank holiday, and is the
largest and most colourful street event in Britain. The festival celebrates the
traditions of the British black community, who emigrated to Great Britain from the
West Indies in the 1950s. They brought with them the Caribbean idea of the carnival,
with processions, colourful costumes, steel bands and street dancing. Preparations
for the carnival begin many months beforehand. Costumes have to be made, and
floats built, ready for the street procession. Steel bands practise traditional
Caribbean music on instruments made from old oil drums. Shortly before the festival,
the streets are decorated with red, green and yellow streamers, and amplifiers are
set in place, to carry the rhythmic sounds over the roar of the London traffic. The
carnival lasts for three days, and is full of music and colour. Processions of floats,
steel and brass bands, and dancers in exotic costumes make their way through the
narrow London streets, watched by thousands of people. The streets are lined with
stalls selling tropical fruits, such as fresh pineapple, watermelons and mangoes.
Everybody dances - black and white, young and old - and even the policemen on
duty take part in the fun. For these three days in August, a little Caribbean magic
touches the streets of London.
EX E R C I S E 1: Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a)
public holiday during which the banks are
closed by law
b) customs and beliefs continued from past
generations
c) move from one's own country to live in another
d) group of musicians who play music on metal
drums-often West Indian
e) in advance
f) type of vehicle which is highly decorated, and
often carries people, especially for a carnival
procession
g) round, metal container for oil
h) long ribbon of paper
i) electrical equipment for making sound louder
j) loud, deep sound
k) group of musicians who play instruments such
as trumpets and trombones
I) colourful and unusual, often having to do with
distant countries
m) go; travel
(phrase)
n) small shop - often just on a table - which is
outside
56 •
ELS
E X E RC I S E 2: Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. Although Notting Hill Carnival is a celebration of the traditions of black people in
Britain
A)
people from all over the world come to watch it
B) everybody seems to participate in it
C) Caribbean people also take part in it
D) it touches on native British traditions as well
E) it is gaining in popularity among the white in recent years
2. During the Carnival,
A)
the police find it difficult to keep the participants under control
B) preparations begin early in the morning
C) the participants in the carnival decorate the streets with colourful streamers
D) traffic is banned from certain streets
E) music and colour fill the streets of London
3. The writer states that
A)
thousands of people take part in the preparations for the carnival
B) this carnival has been held since the 1950s
C) dancers in the carnival wear special clothes
D) usually there are many injuries during the carnival because of the great crush of people
E) the dancers in the carnival are from the black community
EX E RC IS E 3: Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
They are planning to
to Australia because they think there will be more
opportunities there.
2. When we went to the concert, we immediately
to the front of the crowd
so that we could see better.
3. We bought the tickets
so as not to be disappointed on the day.
4. When I have saved enough money, I intend to go on a long holiday to all the
places I have always dreamt about.
5.
I hate market days because it is so difficult to walk round all the
in the
street.
ELS • 57
ALFRED NOBEL - A MAN OF CONTRASTS
Alfred Nobel, the great Swedish inventor and industrialist, was a man of many
contrasts. He was the son of a bankrupt, but became a millionaire; a scientist with a
love of literature; an industrialist who managed to remain an idealist. He made a
fortune but lived a simple life, and although cheerful in company he was often sad in
private. A lover of mankind, he never had a wife or family to love him; a patriotic son
of his native land, he died alone on foreign soil. He invented a new explosive,
dynamite, to improve the peacetime industries of mining and road building, but saw it
used as a weapon of war to kill and injure his fellow men. During his useful life he
often felt he was useless: "Alfred Nobel," he once wrote of himself, "ought to have
been put to death by a kind doctor as soon as, with a cry, he entered life." World-
famous for his work, he was never personally well-known, for throughout
his life he avoided publicity. "I do not see," he once said, "that I have
deserved any fame and I have no taste for it." Since his death, however,
his name has brought fame and glory to others. His famous will, in
which he left money to provide prizes for outstanding work in Physics
Chemistry, Physiology, Medicine, Literature and Peace, is a
memorial to his interests and ideals. And so, the man who felt he
should have died at birth is remembered and respected long after
his death.
EX E RC I S E 1: Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a)
noticeable differences when compared
b) enormous amount of money
c) with other people present
d) without anybody present
e) loving and being faithful to one's own country
f) general name for substance which causes
something, e.g. a bomb, to blow up
g) digging deep underground to get minerals such
as coal and diamonds
h) attention from the public
i) condition of being well-known
j) have a liking or preference for
(phrase)
:
k) admiration and honour for an achievement
I) document written before death which says what
should happen to one's possessions after
death
m) impressive; remarkable
n) something by which it becomes possible to
remember a past event or person
58 • ELS
EX E R C I S E 2:
Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. From the descriptions in the passage, we can conclude that Alfred Nobel
A)
led a steady and luxurious life
B) never felt happy in his life
C) believed that life wasn't worth living
D) lived in affluence throughout his life
E) had a life full of contradictions
2. Since Alfred Nobel's death
A)
there have been many outstanding people in the fields which he had supported during his life
B) work towards world peace has been sped up
C) his inventions in different fields have been awarded with several prizes
D) the people who do the best work in certain fields have been honoured through his will
E) the contrasts in his life haven't been explained satisfactorily
3. Alfred Nobel considered himself useless
A)
because of the use of his invention, dynamite, in wars
B) because he couldn't help his father to overcome bankruptcy
C) although he did many good things throughout his life
D) as he had strong patriotic feelings yet still never succeeded in doing anything worthwhile for
his country
E) as he had never become outstanding in the fields in which he was interested
EX E R C I S E 3:
Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
The author's new book has received a lot of favourable
2.
His work this year has been
It was much better than anyone had
expected.
3. The
between the two sisters are quite incredible. You wouldn't believe
that they were related.
4.
She always says that she doesn't approve of smoking, but I think she smokes
because she often smells of cigarettes:
5.
I spent an absolute
at the shops yesterday, far more than I'd intended!
EL S
• 5 9
ATTITUDES TOWARDS MONEY
Generally, people are classified into three categories according to their attitudes
towards money: misers, spenders, and economizers. Misers seem almost obsessed
with the idea of saving, so they accumulate money in banks if their income is large, or
in the house - stuffed in mattresses or under the living room rug - if they are low-
income people. They deprive themselves of many things and spend money just on the
most essential things. Spenders are people who have a tendency to spend too much
on too many unnecessary things. They are often too generous, making elaborate gifts
to friends and family. Credit cards in some spenders' hands are often dangerous
weapons. They become addicted to using them, only to regret it later when
the bills come in and they are unable to pay. Economizers are
practical people who spend wisely, usually making use of a
budget. They can enjoy more and various material things
and activities due to their careful utilization of funds. They
spend in moderation and save in moderation for their future
retirement or the education of their children. Of these three
types of people, economizers are what most of us are
having to be in our age. The acute problems of inflation,
shortages, and low salaries are forcing us to become
economizers. It is the only way to be if we are to survive in the future.
Hopefully, the misers and big spenders will modify their
extreme attitudes towards money in these circumstances and
convert into economizers.
E X E RC I S E 1: Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a)
be unable to, or find it difficult to, think of
anything else
b) collect over a period of time
c) the part of a bed which is slept on
d) stop oneself from having or enjoying something
(phrase)
e) luxurious; fancy
f) use
(phrase)
g) use in a practical way [noun]
h) sharp; severe
i) change slightly
60 •
ELS
E XER C I S E 2:
Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. According to the writer, some spenders use their credit cards
A)
to buy elaborate gifts for their friends
B) mostly for their essentials
C) for bills which they are unable to pay in cash
D) so that they can be generous
E) with results for which they are eventually sorry
2. The writer implies that the economizers
A)
spend more on the necessary things and less on entertainment
B) have the best attitude to money
C) give their children a better education
D) are only interested in material things
E) are much better than other people
3. The writer states that
A)
we are being forced to become economizers because of the economic situation
B) misers and spenders cause inflation problems
C) we won't be able to survive the shortages in the future
D) at a certain point in life it is necessary to economize
E) in other circumstances it would be acceptable to be a miser or a spender
EX E R C I S E 3:
Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
I can't sleep at night because my
is so uncomfortable. I'll have to get a
new one.
2.
She
absolutely
with that pop-group. She has all their records
and buys every magazine or newspaper that even mentions them.
3. The shortage has been more
in rural areas due to transportation
problems.
4. This computer program will have to be
a little to suit our requirements.
5. Have you been able to
that book I lent you? I've always found it very
handy.
ELS
6 1
SPIDERS
If you look around the area where you live, you may notice
many different kinds of spiders.The world has anywhere from
40,000 to 120,000 different species of spiders. In any ordinary field,
two million spiders may be hard at work.They thrive in the hottest jungles
and the coldest polar regions. They have been found even at the height of
22,000 feet (6,700 meters), on Mount Everest! The spider's incredible silk-spinning
organs are on its abdomen. The silk thread begins as a liquid that hardens on
contact with the air. A spider can make many different kinds of silk thread. Each kind
has its own special purpose. By using certain tubes, or by combining the threads in
different ways, a spider can make a very delicate thread or a thick, broad band of
silk. Some sizes are used to line their nests or retreats. Others are used for egg
cocoons, or for tying up victims, or for weaving webs. Spider silk is stronger than
silkworm silk. If twisted into a rope.it can lift more weight than a rope of the same
size made of iron wire! In his book
Sociobiology,
E.O. Wilson quotes an old
Ethiopian proverb, "When spider webs unite, they can halt a lion." Although lions
have never been seen in spider webs, there does seem to be some truth in this.
Scientists believe that cooperative prey-capturing in spiders has probably evolved
because it improves efficiency. It also allows the spiders to go after larger prey.
Cooperation and sharing improve the use of their webs and the food available to
them.
EX E R C I S E 1: Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a)
do well; live successfully
b) part of the body; stomach
c) become stiff or solid
d) place in which to hide
e) cross threads over and under each other in
order to make something
f) net made by spiders from their silk in order to
catch food
g) to wind together
h) thin metal thread
i) say or write someone else's words
J) stop
k) catching animals forfood
I) change over the years due to environmental
conditions
6 2
ELS
E X E R CI S E 2 : Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. We understand from the passage that spiders
A)
can live in virtually any climate
B) are increasing in number every year
C) prefer hot jungles to cold places
D) have more different species than any other animal
E) are the hardest-working of all animals
2. The silk that spiders produce
A)
is stronger than iron
B) has to be twisted before use
C) can measure 6,700 metres in length
D) has a variety of specific functions
E) can be used in the same way as silkworm silk
3. It is stated that when spiders work together
A)
they are stronger than the strongest animals
B) they can capture more and bigger prey
C) any food they catch is then shared equally
D) the webs they weave become much more complex
E) they are less vulnerable to attack by lions
EX E R C I S E 3:
Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
Since we moved to the country, the children have
on the clean air and
fresh food.
2. The traffic was
to allow the President's car to pass.
3. The bandits were in their mountain
and so the police were unable to
find them.
4. After repairing the broken vase, you'll need to wait for 24 hours before using it again so that
the glue can
5.
I believe that we're going to get a pay-rise, but don't
me on that-it's just
a rumour.
ELS
63
HOW TO TRAIN ELEPHANTS
Two main techniques have been used for training elephants, which we may cal
respectively the tough and the gentle. The former method simply consists of setting
an elephant to work and beating him until he does what is expected of him. Apart
from any moral considerations, this is a stupid method of training, for it produces a
resentful animal who at a later stage may well turn into a man-killer. The gentle
method requires more patience in the early stages, but produces a cheerful, good-
tempered elephant who will give many years of loyal service. The first essential in
elephant training is to assign to the animal a single trainer who will be entirely
responsible for the job. Elephants like to have one master just as dogs do, and are
capable of a considerable degree of personal affection. There are even stories of
half-trained elephant calves who have refused to feed and pined to
death when, by some unavoidable circumstance, they have been
deprived of their own trainer. Such extreme cases must probably
be taken with a grain of salt, but they do underline the general
principle that the relationship between elephant and trainer is
the key to successful training.
E X E R C I S E 1: Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a)
teach certain tasks or skills
b) separately and in the order mentioned
c) hard; strict; firm
d) feeling angry about someone's behaviour
towards you
e) at a time in the future
(phrase)
f) feeling of fondness or love
g) baby cows, elephants, seals, and whales
h) miss someone who has left or died so much
that you eventually die
(phrase)
i) take something you want or need away; stop
from having
j) don't take too seriously; don't believe
something is completely true
(phrase)
64 • ELS
EX E RC I S E 2:
Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. When comparing the tough and gentle elephant-training techniques, the writer
considers the latter to be
A)
stupid and largely immoral
B) the method which is more successful
C) very time-consuming and lacking in rewards
D) the one more likely to harm the elephant
E) the more enjoyable
2. The most important point when training an elephant is
A)
not to change the trainer
B) to give it a dog for company
C) to show it lots of affection
D) not to try to train calves
E) to choose a good-tempered elephant
3. According to the writer, the tough training technique
A)
is much faster than the gentle
B) requires a trainer of great physical strength
C) creates cheerful, loyal elephants
D) is not only foolish but also immoral
E) is only effective for a short period
EX E R C I S E 3:
Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
I have a great
for the elderly couple next-door, who are always so kind
and friendly.
2. The only way I'm going to manage to lose weight is by
myself
all the food I like most.
3. The top two most popular overseas holiday destinations for British tourists are Spain and
Greece
4.
She felt so
about the way she'd been treated at work that she refused
to speak to even her closest friends.
5.
If we buy the flight tickets today, we can book the hotel
ELS • 65
TEENAGE ENTREPRENEURS
Surveys often reveal that more than half of all the teenage entrepreneurs that
have recently emerged in the United States are firstborn children, and many are
from immigrant families. Some are content with modest revenues, others are
primarily after big money - but most are driven simply by the desire to shape their
own destinies. Certainly, all possess qualities such as ingenuity, a good intellect, a
healthy sense of self, inner drive, and a clear-cut purpose. "It's not luck; it's hard
work," says one of them. "If you work hard, you'll be successful - that's what I
always say. You can't rely on anybody but yourself." Perhaps the most engaging
quality of the teenage entrepreneurs is their effervescent optimism. Reared in an era
of unprecedented exposure to news of disaster, terrorism, famine, and the threat of
nuclear mayhem, they nevertheless developed into positive-thinking achievers.
Aware of the obstacles, they are far more interested in the opportunities.
EX E R C I S E 1: Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a)
person who organizes and manages a
business enterprise
b) happy; satisfied
c) income
d) looking for; trying to get
(phrase)
e) wish; strong feeling of want
f) future; fate
g) cleverness; skill; ability to think of new ideas
h) self-motivation
(phrase)
i) obvious; distinct; easy to understand
j) holding your attention; seeming attractive
k) lively; enthusiastic
I) (of children) bring up; raise
m) never done or known before
n) chaos; state of no control
66 ELS
E X E RC IS E 2:
Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. According to the passage, teenage entrepreneurs were able to succeed
A)
despite growing up in a troubled age
B) because they had emigrated to the United States
C) because they work much harder than anyone else
D) as they were the first children born into their families
E) due to their desire to become very rich
2. The motivation most commonly found in teenage entrepreneurs is
A)
that, as immigrants, they are eager to succeed in the States
B) the need to support their younger brothers and sisters
C) that they want to determine their own futures
D) the opportunity to become extremely wealthy
E) the wish to be successful despite unfavourable conditions
3. While a moderate income can be pleasing for some entrepreneurs
A)
more of them are concerned with helping their families
B) many are only interested in what they can achieve
C) most get their satisfaction from the hard work
D) others want to make a fortune
E) very few are prepared to settle for little
E X E R C I S E 3:
Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
The plan seemed very
to begin with, but on further investigation it was
found to be quite complicated.
2. The action the manager took was quite
and took everyone by surprise.
3.
I would be
with a small, pretty flat; I don't want anything too grand.
4.
He doesn't believe in
He thinks you have to live according to a plan.
5.
She has a lot of
and has managed to succeed despite many
difficulties.
ELS
67
CHINESE NEW YEAR
The most important holiday in China is the Lunar New Year. Since it is based on
the lunar calendar, it comes about a month later than the Western New Year. The
Chinese New Year season traditionally lasts about a month; however, so that
working life will not be interrupted for too long, the period has now been reduced to a
week or less. There are some parallels with the Western New Year: houses are
cleaned thoroughly, for instance, and families all get together for the festivities. All
debts must be paid off so that the new year can start with a fresh beginning. Feasts
are enjoyed with family and friends, and there are lively dragon and lion dances in
the streets. Everywhere there is the sound of firecracker explosions. Children
receive gifts of little red envelopes with money inside them. Many superstitions are
related to the celebration of the Chinese New Year. No sweeping should be done in
case the family's good fortune is swept out of the door with the trash. One should be
especially careful not to break any dishes, for such an accident is believed to bring
about serious problems between members of the family throughout the coming year.
EX E R C I S E 1: Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a)
concerning the moon
b) system of dividing time into years, months, and
days
c) large, special meal
d) large imaginary animal in legends (usually a
winged reptile)
e) small explosive device which makes a noise
and is used for entertainment purposes
f) belief in cause and effects with no scientific
links
g) cleaning the floor with a brush or broom
h) rubbish
68 • ELS
EX E R C I S E 2:
Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. The aim in shortening the Chinese New Year season was
A)
to bring it closer to the Western New Year traditions
B) to lower the cost of celebration
C) to reduce the number of feasts held
D) to prevent the streets from becoming too congested with dragon and lion dances
E) to minimize disruption of work
2. The Chinese and Western New Years
A)
share certain similarities
B) are both celebrated in January
C) have absolutely nothing in common
D) both last for about a month
E) are both based on the lunar calendar
3. At Chinese New Year
A)
children are the most important people
B) debts are traditionally cancelled
C) the Chinese observe a lot of superstitions
D) nobody eats from dishes
E) disagreements in the family are settled
EX E R CI S E 3:
Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
If you do the
I'll clean the windows.
2. According to English
if a black cat crosses your path, you'll have good
luck, while in the United States, the same event signals bad luck.
3.
It takes the moon twenty-nine-and-a-half days to go round the earth, so this is known as a
month.
4. There is so much
on the beach that it is too dirty to sit on.
5. Although different religions and peoples around the world have their own methods for
counting years, the
used internationally is the one introduced by Pope
Gregory XIII in the 16th century.
ELS
69
LEVI STRAUSS
In 1850, during the Gold Rush, a twenty-year-old immigrant from Bavaria named
Levi Strauss stepped off the boat in San Francisco. He had with him a special cloth
called Serge de Nimes, which would later be called denim in America. Levi Strauss
hoped to sell the denim as material to make tents and covers for wagons, to the men
who were going to the goldfields to look for gold. "You should have brought pants to
sell. In the goldfields we need strong pants that don't wear out," one young miner
advised Strauss. So Levi Strauss took some of his denim to the nearest tailor and
had him make the miner a pair of pants. The miner was so pleased with his pants
that he told other miners about the wonderful new Levi's pants or Levis, and soon
Levi Strauss had to open a shop to manufacture enough trousers for the miners. The
miners wanted trousers that were comfortable to ride in, that were low-cut so they
could bend over easily to pick up the gold from under their feet, and which had big
useful pockets. One miner complained that the gold in his pockets kept tearing them.
So Levi put metal corners in the pockets to make them stronger. Very soon, miners
and cowboys from all over came to get fitted up with Levi's pants. Today, more than
a hundred years later, Levi's pants walk the world as Levi's blue jeans.
EX E R C I S E 1: Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a)
person who comes to settle in another country
b) leave a vehicle, e.g. a plane, etc.
(phrasal verb)
c) become useless; exhausted
(phrasal verb)
d) person who digs out metals or minerals from
underground
e) make or process (a raw material) into a
finished product (especially using a large-scale
industrial operation)
f) (of trousers) made to fit around the hips rather
than the waist
g) incline the body; lean over
h) be equipped or supplied with
(phrase)
70 • ELS
EX E R C I S E 2:
Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. It's clear that Levi Strauss's original purpose for taking denim to America was
A)
to provide jeans for the miners
B) forgotten when he got off the boat
C) to make himself equipment for going to the goldfields
D) to sell to the tailors
E) not for making trousers
2. The first pair of Levi Strauss "jeans"
A)
were admired by many other people
B) didn't fit the needs of the miners
C) were made as a response to a request
D) were no different from today's models
E) were made in Bavaria
3. Levi Strauss's trousers first became popular
A)
because they were so fashionable
B) due to the customers talking about them
C) as a result of their being affordable
D) after they had been sold for a century
E) when they had gold put into the corners
E X E R CI S E 3:
Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
The
was trapped underground for several hours after the explosion.
2. That man is too fat to be wearing
trousers. They really don't suit him
all.
3. There is a lot of bureaucracy involved in trying to get a job if you are a/an
4. The new soldiers are going to the stores to
their uniforms and guns.
5.
I've only had these shoes for a month and they've already
ELS • 71
ASTROLOGY
All around the world, it seems to be true that people prefer mysterious
explanations to simple explanations. If someone is killed in a car crash, for example,
many people say it was caused by fate, rather than by poor driving or bad road
conditions. In many countries, a profitable business has developed around the
subject of astrology. Astrologers want us to believe that our characters are formed
as soon as we are born, according to the particular zodiac sign we are born under.
Many people prefer to believe this than to read the
scientific explanations of the development of human
character and personality put forward by
psychologists and doctors. Hence, in many popular
magazines and women's journals, we find a column
such as "You and Your Stars". And in some
countries, you can even ask an astrology "expert"
questions about your future.
E X E R C I S E 1: Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a)
appearing to have no cause or explanation;
impossible to understand
b) the future as decided by a power which cannot
be controlled
c) not adequate in quality; bad
d) bringing in more money than is being spent
e) each of the twelve symbols named after groups
of stars which are believed to influence our
lives
(two words)
f) propose for consideration; state
(phrasal verb)
g) for this reason
h) a feature article that appears regularly in a
publication, such as a newspaper
72
E L S
EX E R CI S E 2:
Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. According to the passage, people worldwide
A)
have to drive on poor road conditions
B) tend to be more receptive to mysterious explanations
C) consult astrologers before making any plans
D) have similar characteristics according to their sign of the zodiac
E) cannot control their lives because they are already set by outside influences
2. The subject of astrology
A)
can only be understood by experts
B) holds explanations we cannot find in our normal lives
C) is based on the work of scientists and psychologists
D) is used by many doctors when looking for diagnoses
E) brings in a lot of money for people in several countries
3. According to astrologers
A)
psychologists have no validity when explaining the development of personality
B) it doesn't matter whether you are a good or bad driver because you can't control fate
C) women are more likely to follow their horoscopes than men
D) the zodiac sign under which a person is born determines his or her character from birth
E) a business can be extremely profitable if it is set up with their advice
E X E RCI S E 3:
Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
The company, with an annual turnover of several million dollars, is one of the most
in the country.
2.
Police are still trying to explain the
disappearance of the paintings.
3. She says she can guess anybody's
just by talking to them for five
minutes, and she was right about mine.
4. The company's business has expanded greatly;
, they are going to be
hiring several new staff members.
5.
He believes it was
that we met again in such an unlikely place, but I
think it was just coincidence.
ELS
73
THE IMPORTANCE OF DREAMS
In 1960, an American psychiatrist named William Dement published
experiments dealing with the recording of eye-movements during sleep. He showed
that the average individual's sleep cycle is punctuated with peculiar bursts of eye-
movement, some drifting and slow, others jerky and rapid. People woken during
these periods of eye-movement generally reported that they had been dreaming.
When woken at other times they reported no dreams. If one group of people were
disturbed from their eye-movement sleep for several nights on end, and another
group were disturbed for an equal period of time but when
they were not exhibiting eye-movements, the first
group began to show some personality disorders,
while the others seemed more or less unaffected.
The implications of all this were that it was not
the disturbance of sleep that mattered but the
disturbance of dreaming.
EX E R C I S E 1: Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a)
interrupt at intervals
b) strange; unusual
c) short and sudden period
d) moving slowly with no purpose or direction
e) moving abruptly and unevenly
f) show; display
g) something that is suggested or hinted at by
something else
74 • ELS
E X E RC IS E 2:
Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. During the research, those woken while dreaming
A)
were hardly affected at all
B) were the ones who had had personality disorders
C) reported that their dreams affected their personalities
D) were not showing any eye-movement
E) displayed signs of disturbance in their personalities
2. We can infer from the passage that during sleep,
A)
people dream all the time
B) the type of eye-movement indicates the type of dream
C) there is no eye-movement when the person isn't dreaming
D) drifting and slow eye-movement coincides with a dream that can't later be reported
E) one's eyes are constantly moving
3. The research implied that
A)
people with personality disorders dreamt more than others
B) interrupting dreams was more significant than interrupting sleep
C) dreamless sleep led to fewer personality disorders
D) dreams lasted for equal periods of time in different people
E) if sleep was disturbed, then dreams later became disturbed as well
EX E R C I S E 3:
Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE
1.
1.
It wasn't until the
ship nearly grounded itself that the onlookers
realized that the crew was in trouble.
2.
She has some very
ideas which both confuse and amuse me.
3.
He has been
symptoms of stress ever since he took on that new job.
4. The minister's speech was
by spontaneous rounds of applause.
5. We could hear occasional
of gunfire from behind the enemy lines,
ELS • 75
EUROPE'S LAST UTOPIA
Everybody knows that Santa Claus lives somewhere near the North Pole where
a carpet of snow covers the mountains and the amazing Northern Lights shine
brightly in the Arctic night. It has generally been assumed that he settled there
because of all that snow for his reindeer and sleigh, but the real reason he put his
roots down on the edge of the Arctic Circle in Finnish Lapland, Europe's last
wilderness, must surely be that he simply loved the beauty and solitude of this last
Utopia, Santa Claus Land. Sandwiched between Norwegian Lapland and the former
USSR, Finnish Lapland lies almost entirely above the Arctic Circle in Northern
Finland. The capital is the winter-sport center of Rovaniemi. It's a modern town in
the middle of nowhere. Concorde used to land there and many daily Finnair flights
arrive from all over Finland.
E X E R C I S E 1: Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a) person who is believed, by children, to deliver
presents at Christmas
b) vehicle used for travelling on snow, often pulled
by horses
c) settle; establish oneself (in a place)
(phrase)
d) state of being without other people - usually
calm and peaceful
e) imaginary place which is perfect and where
everyone is happy
f) put between two other things with little space
left over; squashed
g) a long way from anywhere; isolated
(phrase)
76 • ELS
E X E R CI S E 2:
Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. Finnish Lapland
A)
has a modern airport in the capital, Rovaniemi
B) is smaller than Norwegian Lapland
C) is the only remaining wilderness in Europe
D) gets most of its revenue from winter sports
E) is entirely covered with snowy mountains
2. Finnish Lapland is an area
A)
which was once part of the USSR
B) completely within the Arctic Circle
C) also known as Utopia
D) with a large reindeer population
E) close to the North Pole
3. The writer claims that
A)
Santa Claus settled in Finnish Lapland because of the peace and quiet
B) it's because of its location that Finnish Lapland is so popular
C) the greatest attraction in Finnish Lapland is the Northern Lights
D) trying to find wilderness is like trying to find Utopia
E) reindeers are the best animals for pulling sleighs
E X E RC I S E 3:
Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
After travelling extensively throughout the world, she finally
in a small
village near the sea.
2. One of the most popular tourist attractions was the
rides round the
frozen lake.
3.
I know the house is beautiful, but it's
There isn't even a local shop.
4. When I got onto the crowded train, I found myself
between a woman
carrying a screaming baby and an extremely fat man who snored while he slept.
5. Whenever the pressure of work got too much for him, he used to escape from the city and
seek the
of the mountains.
ELS • 77
THE GORILLA'S CHEST-BEATING
Why does a gorilla beat its chest? It depends on the gorilla - and on the
situation. In some instances, the flamboyant and intimidating gesture may be just
what it seems: a warning to keep away. When truly aroused, the leader of the gorilla
troop rises and drums his chest rapidly, palms open and slightly cupped. Then he
explodes into a charge which may or may not be a bluff. Scientists who have been
charged at by gorillas report that the animals almost always stop
short of violence - unless the human intruder responds in a
hostile manner. Sometimes chest-beating is only an
expression of relief after the danger has passed, a means
of keeping in touch with other gorillas in the troop, or a way
of warning other troops away from the feeding area. Some
gorillas, especially the young ones, often beat their chests
as expressions of high spirits. One thing the gorilla does not
do is stage a victory celebration by drumming furiously on his
chest after he has just cracked an opponent's spine. That sort
of thing happens only in the movies.
EX E R CI S E 1: Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a)
exaggeratedly confident and noticeable
b) frightening in a way that forces or compels
somebody to do something
c) make a sound by beating or tapping
continuously
d) inside surface of the hand
e) curved in shape, e.g. of the hand
f) move suddenly and energetically
g) deception; attempt to make somebody wrongly
believe that you will do something
h) person or thing that enters a place where he or
it is not wanted
i) cheerfulness
(phrase)
j) backbone
78 • ELS
E X E RC I S E 2:
Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. One function of a gorilla's chest-beating is
A)
to frighten younger gorillas with overly high spirits
B) the celebration of a recent victory
C) to call the other troop members to the feeding area
D) to establish which gorilla is the leader of a troop
E) communication with the other members of the troop
2. According to the passage
A)
scientists have found shorter gorillas to be more violent
B) only the leader of the troop of gorillas beats his chest
C) gorillas beat their chests for various reasons
D) a gorilla's charge never needs to be taken seriously
E) gorillas are easily trained to appear in films
3. After a fight with his opponent, the gorilla
A)
does not act triumphantly
B) beats his chest as an expression of relief
C) breaks the opponent's backbone
D) drums his chest furiously
E) behaves exactly as portrayed in films
EX E RC IS E 3:
Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
The students were all in
as it was the last day of the semester.
2.
His manner with the staff is so
that most of them are too scared to
speak to him.
3.
His hands were
around his mouth as he called to his friends on the
other side of the field.
4. As a child she had many operations to straighten her
and, thus, enable
her to walk properly.
5. We knew as soon as the burglar alarms went off that there was a/an
in
the building.
ELS • 79
L0VE
Ilk
1
For most of us, love is the most absorbing subject in
existence. There is an enormous range of meanings in this one little
word: motherly love and self-love, fatherly love and children's love fc
their parents; there is brotherly love and there is the love of one's home and
one's country; there is love of money and there is love of power. Love clearly
includes all of these, but the love in which one can be oneself is the pre-eminent
love for most of us. Love at its fullest can include an enormous range of emotions
and sentiments. It can combine humility with pride, passion with peace, self-
assertion with self-surrender; it can reconcile violence of feeling with tenderness.
"Being in love" is love at its most intense, and is personally focused in a very special
way. Our common speech reflects this fact, as we talk of "falling in love" as if it were
something into which we are precipitated against our will, like falling into a pond.
E X ER CI S E 1: Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a)
very interesting, taking up a lot of one's time
b) the best of all; having better qualities than the
others in the same group
c) attitude based on one's thoughts and feelings
d) modesty
e) satisfaction with something one has achieved;
self-respect
f) self-confidence; ability to speak on one's own
behalf
g) find an agreement between things that are
opposed
h) gentleness
i) cause to happen suddenly and unexpectedly
j) small area of water, often man-made
80 • ELS
E XE RCI S E 2:
Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. Love, according to the passage,
A)
makes us experience all emotions more intensely
B) enables the balancing of extreme feelings
C) happens against our will
D) is only real when we are "in love"
E) is sometimes really difficult to achieve
2. It is stated in the passage that
A)
we frequently mention love in our speech
B) there are various kinds of love
C) nobody wants to "fall in love"
D) it requires effort to maintain any kind of love
E) everyone is more interested in love than in anything else
3. The writer states that, generally, the most important kind of love
A)
absorbs us more than anything in existence
B) occurs when we feel that we are "in love"
C) is "fallen into" and happens against our will
D) is the one which allows us to behave as we are
E) can only be possessed by emotional people
EX E RC I S E 3:
Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
Today's lecture will be given by the man who is
in this particular field of
science.
2. Attempts are being made to
;
the management and the workers and
bring an end to the strike.
3. That book was so
that I could hardly put it down for a minute.
4. The things he just said reflect my
on the matter entirely.
5
is all very well, but you won't get the job if you don't talk about your
achievements.
ELS • 8 1
THE MIND'S EYE
Which weighs more, a pound of feathers or a pound of lead? Everyone knows
the answer: they both weigh the same. An interesting point, however, is what sort of
image popped into your head when you read those words. One person who
answered this question saw, distinctly, a pair of scales with a cube of lead on one
scale balancing a big mound of feathers on the other. A second person got no
mental image, but simply conceived of the problem in terms of words. People differ
greatly in their power to "make pictures in their heads." Years ago the British
scientist Sir Francis Galton asked a group of colleagues to try to visualize the
breakfast table as they had sat down to eat that morning. Some of them saw the
table in sharp detail and in colour. Others saw it only in black and white. Still others
saw a blurred outline, as if through a badly adjusted magic lantern. Many could get
no visual image at all. Scientists believe that most people are born with the ability to
summon up in the mind's eye precise visual images of past experiences, but that
many of us lose this power as we grow up, simply because we fail to exercise it.
EX E R CI S E 1: Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a)
one of the light things which cover a bird's skin
and gives the bird its colour
b) soft, heavy metal
c) go or come quickly (in or out)
d) instrument for weighing with two pans that have
to be balanced
(phrase)
e) solid which has six equally-sized square sides
f) pile; heap
g) imagine; form an idea in the mind
h) clear; distinct
i) unclear; indistinct; confused in appearance
j) old-fashioned device for projecting pictures
onto a screen
k) gather together; bring into existence
(phrase)
I) in imagination; in memory
(phrase)
82 • ELS
EX ER CI S E 2:
Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. We can infer that Sir Francis Galton's aim was
A)
to measure people's ability to picture past experiences
B) to discover what his colleagues had eaten for breakfast
C) to find out how much attention his colleagues paid to their domestic surroundings
D) to assess the incidence of colour-blindness
E) to provide practice in making pictures in one's head
2. The writer states that
A)
most people cannot visually recall events as recent as that morning
B) some people are completely unable to guess at the weight of something
C) past experiences become less important to us as we grow up
D) there is no difference between feathers and lead
E) not all people have the same ability to visualize things
3. People's ability to recall past experiences visually
A)
depends on how far in the past they were
B) often diminishes with the passing years
C) eventually decreases despite exercise
D) enables us to keep precise pictures of them
E) varies according to the words used to describe them
EX ER CI S E 3:
Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE 1.
1.
Before you leave, just
in and say goodbye.
2.
I was so tired that I had to
all my strength just to climb the stairs to
bed.
3. The camera lens must have had a fingerprint on it, because all our photos are
4.
I hope the pillows aren't filled with
as I'm allergic to them.
5
people see their holiday destinations as far more beautiful than they
actually are.
ELS o 83
THE WILL TO LIVE
A very old lady who had devoted her life to pioneer work in education once told
about a dangerous illness she had suffered in her middle years. She lay hovering
between life and death, in the twilight of half-surrender, when she overheard two of
her co-workers talking just outside her hospital room. "If we could only reach her!"
one of them said passionately. "If we could only make her understand how much we
need her!" The words did reach her, and with the forces of life and death hanging in
the balance, they resurrected her will to live. In that moment of discouragement and
wavering faith, the intensity of her colleague's plea reassured her and gave her
courage to take up the struggle again. If we truly wish to live, if we have something
to live for, then the will to live becomes a powerful force in combatting illness. Within
each of us there are two strong instinctual drives, the will to live and the desire to
destroy ourselves. The powerful instinct to remain alive is bolstered by our desire to
create, to discover and to accomplish. Doctors make obeisance to it when, in
a
crisis
of illness, they say, "We have done all we can - now it is up to the patient."
E X E R C I S E 1: Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a)
give time, effort or energy for a particular
purpose
b) first in a new branch of study or particular
activity
c) be in an uncertain or unsettled situation
d) final stages; state between two other states,
with little awareness
e) make contact with
f) be between two possibilities
{phrase)
g) cause to exist again or be used again
h) determination; strong desire
i) not firm or confident
j) intense, emotional request
k) calm; remove worries
I) fight to stop something happening
m) natural; not based on thought or teaching
n) encourage; support
o) respect
84 • ELS
E XE R C IS E 2:
Choose the correct answer according to the passage.
1. We can infer that when the patient heard her colleagues talking
A)
it was during the early evening
B) she had virtually given up trying to stay alive
C) she realized that she had a fatal illness
D) they were not allowed to go into her hospital room
E) she had difficulty understanding them
2. The old lady
A)
lost her faith after her illness
B) was the most important member of the work team
C) was unable to receive visitors when she was ill
D) had been left to die by her doctors
E) worked in new fields of study in education
3. The writer concludes that in fighting illness, it is important to
A)
have friends and colleagues around you
B) be able to rely on your doctor
C) have a purpose in life
D) hear others speaking
E) have a lot of courage
E XE RC IS E 3:
Complete the sentences by selecting words from Column B in EXERCISE
1.
1.
When a person tries to commit suicide, it is often more of a
for help
than an actual attempt to take one's own life.
2. We have been trying to
them on the phone for the last hour, but there's
been no answer.
3. No matter how much you
her, she still thinks everything will go wrong.
4. There's no point in trying to
that old plan. It didn't work before, and it
won't work now.
5.
She
herself to various charities, for which she raises money tirelessly.
ELS • 85
DE BAT E O V E R T H E WO R L D ' S FUT UR E
How many people can the earth hold? Will birth and death rates continue to
1 decline? Can food production keep pace with population growth? Can technology
I supplement or replace today's resources? What are the long-term effects of pollution
1 on health, climate, and farm production? Debate over such issues has spawned
I many volumes, as scholars look to the future with varying degrees of optimism and
1 gloom. In a lecture titled "The Terror of Change", Patricia Gulas Strauch cited three
I aspects of our future about which there is little disagreement: the speed of change
I will accelerate; the world will be increasingly complex; and nations and world issues
I will be increasingly interdependent. Today's problems - which face Third World
1 megacities in particular - cannot be ignored by developed countries. We cannot look
I to the past for solutions as there is no precedent for such growth. We are in
1 uncharted, challenging waters.
EX ER CI S E 1
: Find words or phrases in the passage which mean the same as:
COLUMN A
COLUMN B
a) become smaller; decrease
b) add something to
c) take something's place, instead of it
d) discussion involving different opinions
e) important subject or question causing
discussion
f) cause to happen or be created; produce in
great numbers
g) publication, e.g. a book, published articles, etc
h) person with great knowledge, usually of a
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